No Threat Found at Wheeling Park High School After “Code Red” Locks Down School
Joselyn King Trending
Rumors on social media of a safety threat to students and teachers at Wheeling Park High School Thursday morning proved to not be credible, according to school officials.
Nevertheless, the school was under a "code red" lockdown for more than two hours. An alert went out to parents at about 10:25 a.m. - many of whom immediately came to WPHS to pick up their children.
Law enforcement from the West Virginia State Police, Ohio County Sheriff's Department and the Wheeling Police Department were on scene.
They could not get inside, but a group of parents requesting early dismissal for their children began to gather and wait outside the front entrance to WPHS.
Occasionally, a student would be let outside the front door to join their parents. Many of the students exiting received hugs from their parents.
At about noon, Principal Meredith Dailer told parents still outside the "code red" had been lifted, and all students would be permitted to leave and join them at 12:15 p.m. The school day at WPHS was officially dismissed early at 1 p.m. due to the disruption of the school day, according to school officials.
"The staff and local law enforcement did an outstanding job of keeping the kids safe, even though there was no threat," said Superintendent Kim Miller. "There was a social media rumor, and all of our people acted quickly to make sure there wasn't an incident at Wheeling Park HIgh School."
Miller said the rumor turned out to have no credibility, and there was "no credible threat" to school safety.
"It was just a made-up thing," she explained. "We believe there was a photo that was shared by students on Snapchat, and we certainly are not going to risk any child or staff member getting hurt.
"We acted swiftly in conjunction with local law enforcement - including state county city, as well (Dailer) and her staff."
Miller added she understood why parents came to pick up their children after hearing there was a "code red."
"Social media certainly scares people," she continued. "We understand why people are picking their children up. However, there was no safety issue at Wheeling Park High School."
Dailer said her staff always tells students if they see something that appears to be threatening to the school to inform a teacher or administrator so it can be investigated. Several students did just that Thursday morning after seeing the social media posts on Snapchat, according to Dailer.
"It is our kids that make us aware of the issues," she said. "They share with us. They are forthcoming, and want this building to be safe, as well."
She credited her assistant principals and the WPHS prevention resource officers for quickly being able to find the source of the post. Dailer would not comment as to whether the source was a student or came from within the school.
"They investigated properly, and determined there was no threat to the building," she continued.
Miller said it is important that school officials continue to impress upon students that when they see something that could be a danger to the school, they should say something.
"We continue to do drills so that we are prepared in the event something dangerous were to happen," Miller added.