Penn High School threat

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Posted: 7:10 PM Apr 17, 2008
Last Updated: 7:10 PM Apr 17, 2008
Reporter: Stephanie Stang
Email Address: stephanie.stang@wndu.com

27 comments

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A threatening message scribbled on a bathroom stall forces Penn High School to takes extra security measures.

Friday extra police will be on hand at Penn High School in Mishawka.

In January a message that said “This time it's for real. Everyone dies. April 18." was scratched on the boy's bathroom stall.

The school doesn't believe the threat holds any credibility but they still wanted to take precautions. This is the second threat found in the schools’ bathroom this school year.

Students worried for their safety can take an excused absence tomorrow.

“We do not have any evidence that this is a credible threat .. if we believed it was a credible threat we would close school,” says Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent for PHM schools.

“I know there are chances it could be a real danger but I see how they handle the situation and I am confident we will be fine,” says Penn High School senior Kendra Snodgrass.

A letter was sent home with students after the threat happened letting parents know about the security plan.

There was also a posting on the school's website.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Jayrad Location: sbi on May 1, 2008 at 03:01 PM
This kid was crazy

Posted by: parent Location: Granger on Apr 19, 2008 at 10:47 PM
It seems there are a lot of misperceptions about Penn, perhaps because it is the largest school in the area. There are 3300 students and a lot of socio-economic diversity. None of the Penn parents I know think there are no "bad kids" at Penn. None of the Penn parents I know are constantly "cutting down SBCSC". It seems the media and SB parents themselves do a lot of that. Only a few of my kids friends parents are "rich". Many are comfortable. Most,both parents work fulltime and live paycheck to paycheck. I went to Riley and Marian in the 70's. There were drugs and alcohol at both places. No gun issues at either place. Occassional riot threats at Riley. I think ALL schools these days have safety risks and they ALL need to do more to address this in light of so many tragedies occurring lately. Seems like alcohol and drug issues in high schools are about the same as in the70's but bullying has become much worse. Perhaps this explains the spike in violence? Let's address bullying. Peace.

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 19, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Whoops looks like Penn school is no better than South Bend now. Got your bad kids there too don't you? Think 2ce now before cutting down the South Bend Schools. There are nuts all over the place not just at the SBCSC.

Posted by: REBECCA Location: MIDDLEBURY on Apr 18, 2008 at 08:36 PM
i not doing my school is better than yours thing, it stupid that they only focus one school that got a threat when our school got one it stuipd

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 18, 2008 at 04:31 PM
i went to school today and the so called extra security was 2 police officers.. woo that makes a big diff.;; also only about 1/3 of students were there.. i left right after my first class. what a joke...

Posted by: Steve on Apr 18, 2008 at 03:28 PM
Looks like the kiddies have found an easy way to get days off of school.

Posted by: Mom Location: SB on Apr 18, 2008 at 02:49 PM
I am with Nicole - Brent and Ian - obviously, you can't take what you guys dish out when it is a SB school in the lime light.

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 18, 2008 at 01:20 PM
dont worry with sheriff lobo there you are all safe, unless he is flirting with the high school girls.

Posted by: Nicole Location: south bend on Apr 18, 2008 at 01:12 PM
To Brent and Ian: Where do you two live so Shannon and I can come SLAP YOU!!!!

Posted by: Fred on Apr 18, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Margaret, it sounds like you're happy this happened. What kind of disgusting person are you?

Posted by: Angie on Apr 18, 2008 at 09:46 AM
No one ever said that things like this only happen in SBCSC. It is happening everywhere. Posting stupid comments about how no one ever thought it would happen in Penn High School (or University as the moron stated) is not helping. At least Penn addressed the situation. Parents were made aware as soon as it happened and security measures were taken. Stop pointing the finger based on location and wealth - let's start fixin gthe problem and making our schools safer. It's happening EVERYWHERE!

Posted by: deb Location: South Bend on Apr 18, 2008 at 08:45 AM
my daughter atends Riley High School she just texted that they also have had a bomb treat at the school we phoned the school and they said they thought it was more like a copy cat thing from penn, well at first i thought ok but then if something would happen and my child had wanted to come home and i told her to stay at school i would never be able to live with myself, so i texted her back and told her to come home. i'm not willing to risk my childs life just in case.

Posted by: Ian Location: Granger on Apr 18, 2008 at 08:22 AM
I agree with Brent - Margaret where do you live? Brent and I both want to come slap you!

Posted by: Penn Mom on Apr 18, 2008 at 08:06 AM
I thnk some people should grow up I think if my child was at southbend mishawaka or east bum-#$%^ i would take any threat serious at the school there are to many shooting happening what has this world come to or children are killing each other for no reason the economy stinks and they keep rising costs for everything My child is a penn student and I agree they seem to get alot better news coverage I also think it is unfair that southbend mishawaka etc.. does not get the coverage they deserve . racistsimn is not in my book and if more people live with the fact we all our the same we are all pink inside and we all bleed red blood no person should ever think they our better then the next person. lets teach our children were all equal maybe our world could be a better place.believe me Penn Harris Madison has standards if you come from money your good in their book if you dont then you polluting their school and they begin the write up , suspensions, expellsions on these kids

Posted by: ND Fan Location: ND on Apr 18, 2008 at 07:45 AM
Can we NOT make this a case of "my school is better than your school" for ONCE and focus on the issue? Someone needs to find this punk and make him/her go spend a day at Columbine or VT and meet the victims' friends and families. Maybe then this person would understand that this behavior is unacceptable.

Posted by: rebecca Location: middlebury on Apr 18, 2008 at 07:19 AM
okay this is stupid Northridge got a threat yesterday and you did report it at all man you are stupid

Posted by: Brent Location: Granger on Apr 18, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Margaret- what is your address so i can come slap you.

Posted by: Margaret Location: South Bend on Apr 18, 2008 at 06:05 AM
Gee-This happened at University of Penn High School? I thought this kind of stuff only happened in the SBCSC. See you guys are no different than we are.

Posted by: parent of 3 Location: south bend on Apr 18, 2008 at 12:30 AM
At least Penn Harris Schools actually care enough to add extra security and inform parents when they recieve threats. Washington High school has a policy of let the students tell the parents when there is a a gun found in school or a student has a known hit list. Maybe our school officials need to meet with the ones from PHM and get some tutoring in what is important...safety for our students. Speaking from experience the phone calls my wife and I have made don't work!!!

Posted by: Penn High Student Location: Penn lol on Apr 17, 2008 at 11:59 PM
I'm going, I live life on the edge

Posted by: Joy Location: Osceola on Apr 17, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Hello, I'm a senior at Penn. I feel that the school doesn't fully understand the severity of school threats. I think they should have tightened security right after they knew about this threat, instead of waiting till the day when it's supposed to happen. By doing this, they would have had more time to notice suspicious students/behavior, but the school expects and bribes the students at Penn to report anything, and that is not the right way to handle this. Penn handed out letters about it to the students to take home. Why couldn't they mail it instead so it's made sure the parents will read it? I bet more than half the students never even gave it to their parents. I didn't; I completely forgot and lost the letter. I'm sure that students and parents would have liked to have read daily updates on how it's been handled. I will not be attending school tomorrow. I think Penn hasn't taken enough precautions for tomorrow and I'm not taking my chances.

Posted by: christopher Location: granger on Apr 17, 2008 at 09:40 PM
penn high is a wonderful school, but it has its dark times,and this is one of them. as a sophomore at penn and i do not fear for my life, so i will attend school at my own risk. i pay very much attention to the local news and yet, im not even a journalist. there are how ever a few kids i know that are very suspicious.

Posted by: Russ Location: Mishawaka on Apr 17, 2008 at 08:03 PM
I really wish such behavior would stop. I am a Penn student. I don't believe for a second about the security being any better tomorrow. For all we know, someone could have weapons stashed in their locker, they won't check each and every one (which basically declares it unsafe) Secondly, the school system just isn't prepared for a dangerous situation. If something really happened, it would happen randomly without a threat. And I believe the school would be totally un-prepared for that. It isn't much secure at all. And I am only being truthful. Sorry to startle parents, but yeah, I know I go there, and there are so many things possible to get away with.