Westmont Hilltop on two-hour delay Thursday morning
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — UPDATE
Westmont Hilltop School district will be on a two-hour delay on Thursday, February 2nd, 2023. The school district says the delay will allow teachers to prepare for the school day.
The school district issued the following statement, "In consultation with our law enforcement partners and with authorization from the Board of School Directors, we have made a collective determination to reopen the school district on Thursday, February 2, 2023, based on factors including the non-specific nature of the threat involved. We will have additional officers on each campus from Upper Yoder, West Hills, and the District Attorney’s office to ensure the school day operates safely. Both schools will operate on a two-hour delay schedule".
ORIGINAL
All was quiet on the Westmont Hilltop front Tuesday.
And all will be quiet again in the suburban Johnstown school district on Wednesday and perhaps longer as investigators try to figure out who left a threatening letter on the door of Westmont Hilltop Junior Senior High School that was discovered Monday morning.
Superintendent Thomas Mitchell said in a letter to parents Tuesday night that school is canceled in both district school buildings Wednesday as the investigation into the case continues.
“We are very concerned,” said Upper Yoder Police Chief John Blake. “It was a very lengthy and well-thought-out letter that contained credible threats toward the safety of Westmont students and teachers alike.”
Mitchells said that the threat did not identify a person, place, or timeline. Neither party said what exactly the threat would have entailed.
The suspect could be seen in security video from camera on school property, from which an image was released publicly Monday. The dark-haired individual, imaging is inconclusive to show gender according to investigators, is believed to have been wearing glasses, a pink sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and black and white sneakers.
Blake said they have been interviewing numerous suspects and eliminating them. He also said evidence has been sent to the state crime lab for analysis.
Cambria County District Attorney Greg Neguebauer said local, state, and federal agencies have offered their support and resources in this case.
Mitchell said multiple tips have been received providing information about the threat. He said the district is preparing for classes to resume by identifying additional resources, including additional officers from West Hills, Upper Yoder, and Cambria County for the elementary and secondary schools.
“When to safely return to class will be decided on a day-by-day basis, therefore, out of an abundance of caution, we are canceling school for Wednesday...to allow the investigation to move forward,” Mitchell said. “We will monitor the progress of the investigation and consult with local law enforcement and the District Attorney's office to determine when classes should resume.”
While students and parents in the district told 6 News about their frustrations with the initial dismissal plan, both Mitchell and Blake commended all parties involved for the plan’s speed and coordination.
“It went much smoother than I had anticipated,” Blake said. “We coordinated the safe dismissal of students to evacuate them from the school safely.”
But with questions still pressing about that safety with a suspect still not in custody. Blake says their search for answers continues.
“We are not going to take this lightly,” Blake said. “It is a problem we have to stop immediately.”
Anyone with information on the case can call Upper Yoder Police at 814-255-6227.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The video story included in this report was aired prior to Mitchell's letter to parents being released canceling school for Wednesday.
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