By Jeffrey Widmer

Published: Monday, May 7, 2012, 2:04 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, May 8, 2012

A bomb scare at Carlynton High School last Wednesday forced the building to be evacuated during the afternoon.

According to district officials, students were placed in lockdown until buses arrived at 1:45 p.m. Robinson Township and Allegheny County police went through the building with bomb-sniffing dogs until it was determined to be safe.

School resumed its normal hours on Thursday.

"It was a very brief note written on a bathroom wall," interim Superintendent Joseph Dimperio said.

"All of those procedures were followed. The building was evacuated safely and the students were taken home for the remainder of the day."

Dimperio encourages parents to talk with their children about the situation's possible repercussions.

"This is a serious matter. If a person is prosecuted and found guilty of this type of terroristic threat, it could mean loss of a college scholarship. It could even mean loss of admittance to college.

"It could have serious consequences beyond your school days here," Dimperio said.

School district protocol includes calling for police, ambulance, fire truck, and Allegheny County's K-9 unit.

"These are very, very expensive and if the person who is responsible is caught and prosecuted and found guilty, one of the penalties is to pay all of the expenses that were incurred by Robinson Township and by the county."

"We're talking a very serious matter. Kids may do this as a prank, thinking there's not much to it, but in this day and age, there's quite a bit to it.

Budget update

Carlyntool directors are starting the process of closely examining a new budget for 2012-13.

Interim superintendent Joseph Dimperio said a preliminary budget would be presented to board members this week for discussion.

It would include a "wish list" of options, he said.

"Options with everything in it, nothing in it, some things in it. We'll have a discussion that goes from there.

"Clearly, it's a challenge for us. It's a challenge for all of the school districts because as funding is cut and things go up, it's not easy. We're working on it and we hope to provide something that the board will be able to deal with...and find acceptable."

School directors approved reducing the district's property tax rate by 1 mill, from 24.15 to 23.15 mills, in the 2011-12 budget, which totaled $23.3 million.

A final budget must be approved by school directors by June 30.

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