EDUCATION

Students charged after threats at Pine Plains, BOCES schools

Nina Schutzman
Poughkeepsie Journal

Editor's Note: The BOCES threat involved the Career & Technical Institute in Poughkeepsie, not the Salt Point Center.

Students responsible for non-credible "threats of violence" involving the Pine Plains Central School District and Dutchess County BOCES have been arrested, according to police.

An aerial photo of the Pine Plains Central School District.

The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office investigated the threats of violence Wednesday, said Capt. John Watterson.

"The threats were determined to be non-credible, and those responsible have been identified and arrested," Watterson said. "At this time, there is no indication that anyone is in danger at either district, and further details will follow at a later time." 

Potential threat at Beacon High School

Threat closes Poughkeepsie schools as officials investigate

Pine Plains Superintendent Martin Handler said his district had "two unsubstantiated threats."

"I called the sheriff's and they did investigate," Handler said. "I'm not sure what the (criminal) charges are, but we've taken disciplinary action" against the two male students.

One of the threats was "today (Wednesday) and the other was on social media," Handler added. "I'm not sure precisely when."

Handler declined comment on the circumstances of the threats.

When it comes to disciplining the students, "we will follow our code of conduct and it could include suspension and/or long-term suspension," he said.

At BOCES, the threat involved the Career & Technical Institute in Poughkeepsie, said Deputy Superintendent Cora Stempel.

A female student at the Institute was arrested, Stempel said.

"We received a phone call from one of the local high school principals, letting us know they had received information from a student about a threat posted on the Internet" involving the Institute, Stempel added.

Meanwhile, at least five other local districts have also dealt with potential threats over the past couple of weeks.

Poughkeepsie schools were closed today; Superintendent Nicole Williams said in a message to the community that a recent social media post with details of a potential shooting at Poughkeepsie High School caused the district to take action and ensure student safety by closing schools.

And in the Beacon City School District, police are planning to conduct a "sweep" of buildings this evening after writing was found at the high school "that can be perceived as a threat," according to a message from Superintendent Matt Landahl.

"I recently received information that there was writing found at Beacon High School that can be perceived as a threat, with the wording March 1," Landahl said in a post on the district website. "Our High School administration has been investigating the incident and we are also working closely with the Beacon Police Department."