Bethel Park cancels classes after social media threats
The Bethel Park School District School District canceled classes for Oct. 12 and Oct. 16 after threats appeared recently on social media.
School officials wrote on the district’s website that Bethel Park police do not think the threats are “credible,” but decided to close those two days in what they thought was “in the best interest of our students and staff.”
District School spokesperson Vicki Flotta said there were rumors of “threats of violence” that would take place on Oct. 12 and 16, but nothing that was credible. The district canceled classes both days after expecting a high absentee rate, while also implementing enhanced security measures the week of Oct. 9, Flotta said.
“There was a lot of misinformation and rumors going around on social media,” Flotta said. “While none of them were true, we really didn’t have a way to address all of them. It made more sense to cancel school.”
The police department referred all questions to school district officials.
One of the missed days has been rescheduled for Feb. 19.