Parents: School mishandled bomb threat

Bethel, Conn. (WTNH) - Parents have reached out to News 8 after their child's school received a bomb threat.

On Thursday, December 15, a bomb threat was called into Bethel High School.

However, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Socci, parents of a Bethel High student, say the school didn't tell parents of the threat until the following day.

On Friday, December 16, the Socci's received an incident follow-up letter from the Superintendent of Schools about the bomb threat.

In his letter, the Superintendent of Schools, Gary Chesley, Ed.D. explained, ""Bethel Police Officer Farina, along with the school administration, had strong reason to believe that the call, made to the attendance tape recorder, was not credible."

He quoted the school's guide for crisis management, which states, "automatic dismissal or fire procedures are not standard practice for all bomb threats."

The Socci's frustration is evident in their response.

"Why was this message not received yesterday when the events were happening, so that we could take our child out of school if we wanted to?" they wrote. "We feel this was grossly negligent on your part."

According to the Socci's letter, the school was never evacuated. Additionally, the parents say the school's employees searched the building for the possible threat, not local police.

"There should have been a bomb sniffing dogs brought into the school and the entire building from top to bottom should have been checked, after it was evacuated," the Soccis wrote. "We are very upset by the fact that you put our child and all the other students and staff in danger."

Both letters applaud the Bethel police, who were able to track down and arrested the culprit, a student who was later arrested.