Update: Parents And Schools React (Or Don’t) To Bus Terror Threat

The state Education Department sent school superintendents a message late Wednesday morning about an email received by some state officials on April 1 that madeto state office buildings, the state Legislature and school buses.

The Education Department said in the message that New York State homeland security and counter-terrorism officials have deemed that the Friday is not credible but authorities are taking it seriously.

“[A]lthough law enforcement authorities are treating this threat seriously and continue to investigate, they are not considering this a credible threat at this time,” the e-mail reads.

The threat came in the form of an anonymous email Friday to state officials with the subject line “Time to Kill,” making specific threats of violence to state office buildings, the state Legislature and school buses.

The Comsewogue School District  posted a letter on its website from superintendent Joseph V. Rella about the threat Wednesday morning. A flashing green banner on the school’s website alerted parents to an important message.

“We have been in close contact with our transportation company and have advised our bus drivers to be particularly diligent while conducting their routine pre- and post-trip inspections and to be vigilant for any unusual activity or unknown individuals at bus stops,” the letter said.

Rella also pointed out that “there have not been any direct threats made to the .”

The email did not target any school district in New York State in particular.

“Our bus drivers are always on alert and have the safety of children as their highest priority,” Rella said. “This incident serves as a reminder to our children to always follow personal safety precautions. We live in a safe community, but we all need to be careful and alert to our surroundings.”

The had no alert or special message on its website on Wednesday morning.

"The State Department of Education notified us of this April 1 threat," said Dr. Max Riley, superintendent of Port Jefferson School District in an email. "In response, we worked with our transportation contractor to refresh training of bus drivers and alert them to be in a state of heightened awareness."

Riley said that he also alerted his other school administrators of the threat.

"The nature of the communication raised suspicions that it was an 'April Fool's Day hoax' and I note that seems to be the emerging consensus," he said. "So I plan no further action unless we get additional information suggesting it is necessary."

Some parents have commented that their school districts have yet to call or contact them. Early this morning two school districts,  and , had already posted the warning on their websites in addition to Comsewogue.

In a comment in the about the bus threat, Port Jefferson resident Laura Hill Timpanaro who is a Board Trustee and has children in the school district had strong words for the anonymous person who sent the email.

“It takes a coward to harm a child,” she said.

Timpanaro also said that she usually allows her children to take the bus home from school but like many parents, she is concerned.

“This development will make me think twice about busing,” she said. “At least in the short term.”