Bomb Threat That Evacuated High School A False Alarm

Quaker Valley High School was evacuated around 1:30 p.m. so authorities could investigate an alleged bomb threat, according to district officials. 

District spokeswoman Martha Smith said the threat found written on a bathroom wall amounted to nothing more than a bunch of smoke.

Leetsdale police and firefighters along with the school resource officer and police from Sewickley, Edgeworth, Leet Township, Sewickley Heights and Bell Acres, responded to set up a perimeter around the high school, which is in Leetsdale.

As a safety precaution, students and their teachers were relocated to the middle school before they were dismissed for the day.

Leetsdale police Sgt. Dan Raible said bomb-sniffing dogs from Allegheny County Bomb Squad and the University of Pittsburgh also responded to the school to help with the investigation. Authorities did not locate any threatening materials, he said.

At 2:35 p.m., the high school was given the all-clear, Smith said.
 
Smith said no one was allowed back into the building until authorities were satisfied that the building and perimeter were safe for re-entry.
 
High School Principal Andrew Surloff commended the students and staff.

"The students were very cooperative expediting a safe and orderly evacuation," he said.
 
During the evacuation, students and their teachers were transported from the lower parking lot and taken by bus to the middle school for dismissal. All "walkers" were sent home, and students with their own cars were dismissed immediately.
 
All previously scheduled activities will take place at the high school this evening except for ninth-grade boys basketball.
 
Anyone with information regarding the alleged threat is asked to report the information to Surloff at 412-749-6012.