"Pep rally canceled after alleged threat
School officials have canceled a Leominster High School pep rally as a precaution after two students reported on Friday that another student had talked about “shooting up” the event, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Police investigated, and “while no evidence of any credible threat was found, a student faces the consequences of disrupting a school assembly and has been suspended from school,” Beth Pratt, interim principal, said in a message sent Monday to the school community. “In light of the above matter, the administrative team has made the painful decision to cancel the pep rally for tomorrow. We do this as an extra precaution and understand that there will be disappointment for many of our students,” Pratt said."
"Leominster’s pep rally back on, but a day late; ‘Shoot up’ threat results in change" by Trisha Thadani, Globe Correspondent November 25, 2014
The mayor of Leominster and student leaders at Leominster High School agreed to reschedule the annual Thanksgiving pep rally, which was canceled Monday after two students reported hearing another student threaten to “shoot up” the event.
On Tuesday, police filed a criminal complaint against a 17-year-old male student from the high school in connection with the threat, said Lieutenant Michael Goldman. The student was charged with disruption of a school by threatened use of a deadly weapon and was also suspended, Goldman said.
Following an investigation, police said they found “no credible threat” to the remarks that were made Friday. However, school officials still decided to cancel the pep rally slated for Tuesday.
But after Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella collaborated with Kyrah Altman, senior class president, the pep rally will now be held Wednesday afternoon at City Hall.
The mayor said the cancellation had greatly disappointed the school community, and the rally was too important of a tradition to “go passed over.”
The pep rally “has been going on for as long as I know,” Mazzarella said. “Either way, I think it’s important that these kids get their rally. They work hard, and there’s a lot of planning that goes into this.”
Following the threat, Goldman said there has been an increased police presence at the school this week, “just in case.” He said officers will also be at Wednesday’s pep rally.
Officials at the school could not immediately be reached for comment.
Beth Pratt, interim principal, said Monday that canceling the rally was a “painful decision.”
“We do this as an extra precaution and understand that there will be disappointment for many of our students,” Pratt said in a message sent to the school community.
It's kind of a life lesson, kids.
Altman said the principal and school administrators were supportive about their decision to reschedule the rally. Although her class was disappointed the event had been canceled, she said he understands the decision.
The threat “was scary enough to have definitely spooked us,” Altman said. “The school wouldn’t have canceled something so dear to our hearts if it wasn't for our safety.”
Right.
Related: Spooky School Shooting Post
Gee, that is $pooky.
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What if they are all hoaxes or frauds, readers?
