Legal Charges Possible for School Threatener, Letter Says

The following letter was sent to Montville parents by Montville Township Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried and to be distributed through parent leaders in the district. Have something you'd like to share with the community? Upload it here.

Update on Recent Incidents in Our Schools

I know that the recent incidents in three of our schools have been very disturbing. I am writing to share some information pertaining to the recent bomb scares in our schools.

The investigation by the school administration and the Crime Scene Investigation Unit is ongoing and being pursued very seriously. We do not take these incidents lightly and continue to seek the identity of those responsible.

The Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office do not believe that the incidents are related. All three threats have been characterized as low level, but that does not deter us from doing everything possible to find out who has committed these acts. If we are able to determine who is responsible, we will impose all consequences available to us under our Code of Conduct. We will also press any and all legal charges possible against those who continue to threaten and disrupt our schools.

Our five elementary principals, as well as the administration at Lazar Middle School, are beginning to hold discussions with all children in grades 3 – 8. They are speaking with them about the serious nature of making threats, and the consequences they face if caught doing so. In addition, within the next few days, a police officer from the Montville Township Police Department will be visiting the children in grades 3 - 8 to impress upon them the importance of not making any threats against the school or any person.

I am hopeful that our continued focus on this issue will help bring these unfortunate events to a close. Our focus will remain on the safety of our children. 

Please continue to speak with your child. I am confident that together we can solve this problem. Thank you.

Paul Fried

Superintendent of Schools