Bethlehem community reacts to school threats
BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) – We talked to several parents and students who all expressed concerns, but they’re also optimistic that they will get back to some normalcy soon. One high school student said she chose to stay home on Friday after more threats came in late Thursday night.
“I honestly was like you gotta be kidding me,” said Bethlehem High School student Haley Donohue. “Right before, I went to bed, I checked one more time and I was like, yep two more phone calls. It’s insane.”
Donohue called the threats disturbing and said she’s nervous to go back to school. Her dad Michael Donohue said he and his wife are angry. He wants his girls to feel comfortable at school and does not want them to worry. He hopes police identify those responsible for the threats soon.
“If it’s some kid, some teenager who’s doing this, he’s gonna need some help, needs some guidance. If it’s an adult, who should definitely be knowing better not to do this sort of thing, they should really come down hard on them. It shouldn’t be brushed aside, slap on the wrist punishment,” said Michael.
Specific threats targeted the football team. That prompted officials to cancel Friday night’s football game against the Christian Brothers Academy. It likely won’t be rescheduled. CBA Head Football Coach Bobby Burns said they are disappointed.
“I mean, we got a lot of man hours in getting ready for Bethlehem and when you find out yesterday that you’re not gonna play yeah you gotta kind of turn the page and move on to the next opponent which we’ve tried to do,” said Burns.
He said he’s trying to reframe their thinking, but it’s still disheartening.
“We’ll get a chance to go scout a couple other teams and will try to find the positives out of the situation. Like I got a couple kids knicked up, that a couple days off will probably be helpful to them. And, you know, we’re not risking injuries playing another game on a Friday night. These are the positives I’m trying to spin on it but we wanna play,” said Burns.
We also talked to a parent of students at the elementary and middle schools, Matthew Bauer, and he praised the district’s communication and the response from law enforcement.
“They’ve done an excellent job with everything. It’s the only reason my kids are in class today, is the strength of the people that are supporting the schools,” said Bauer. “We want to continue on, we want to carry forward, but at the same time we want to do it in a measured response and in an intelligent way, dealing with the risk that’s there.”
Haley and her dad Michael said they will take things, day by day and make decisions as information unfolds.
“I do like how they’re checking the backpacks today, that would make me feel more comfortable if I decide to go in. I think that’s something they should keep doing if the threats keep going on,” said Haley.
“I have faith that the police will eventually catch this guy hopefully sooner than later and life will get back to normal very shortly,” said Micahel.
The community continues to rally around the school and offer support. A local church will host an open forum for youth who want to talk about the threats with their peers.
That will happen on Sunday afternoon, from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.