Dear Superintendent Johnson and Members of the State College Area School District (SCASD) School Board,

We, the undersigned parents, guardians and families of students attending State College Area High School (SCAHS) and Delta School, are deeply concerned about recent decisions and communications related to school safety following the credible threats made against our schools on April 11, 2025 about a planned attack at SCAHS on April 21, 2025. In response, we have outlined five requests for action from decision makers.

While we appreciate the timely updates provided by Superintendent Johnson through Parent Square, we were disappointed by the absence of clear explanations and transparent dialogue about the rationale behind significant decisions such as the removal of the metal detectors from the school premises starting April 22.

Respectfully, we request the following actions from the Superintendent and the School Board:

1.     Moderated Forum for Parents/Guardians/Families, Superintendent, and School Board
We request the immediate organization of a moderated forum for SCAHS and Delta families, school board members, and administrators dedicated exclusively to addressing school safety, student well-being, and related decisions. Such a meeting would enable families to express directly their concerns, propose constructive solutions, and hear from district leadership about the reasoning behind safety decisions, updates on the investigation, and the timeline for decision-making.

2.     Consistent, Transparent, and Timely Communication
We have observed inconsistent messaging and communications from district administration regarding safety measures and decisions. For example, the communication regarding the abrupt change in safety protocols on April 21 exemplifies this inconsistency. Initially, Superintendent Johnson clearly communicated the installation and subsequent increase of metal detectors, as well as an enhanced police presence, directly responding to the credible threat. However, during an informal discussion with parents on the morning of April 22, Superintendent Johnson cited studies indicating metal detectors' ineffectiveness as justification for removing them. This raises significant confusion: If metal detectors are deemed ineffective now, why were they implemented and even increased immediately after the threat? Additionally, the Superintendent implicitly acknowledged that current student ID checks are inadequate and indicated that improvements are still under discussion, but not yet implemented. Such inconsistency erodes trust and confidence among families and students toward school administrators. Given this, we question the rationale behind reverting safety protocols prematurely before adequate replacement measures had been finalized and ready for deployment without discussion with parents about the rationale for the measures. Going forward, we request clearly articulated rationale behind decisions—including supporting literature or evidence related to safety protocols and mental health implications.

3.    Explicit Attention to Student Anxiety and Well-Being
Recent district communications have inadequately addressed the heightened anxiety, stress, and disruption experienced by our students following the safety threats and related decisions. Simply directing students to meet with school counselors is not an effective solution. Many students report that these meetings feel impersonal, limited to pre-scripted scenarios, and fail to provide meaningful emotional support or address their specific concerns. Moreover, students are reading school communications closely themselves. When these messages fail to acknowledge their fears or appear to minimize the seriousness of recent events, it deepens their distress and erodes trust. What students need is not generic guidance, but sincere, transparent efforts that acknowledge their lived reality, communicate clear commitments to their safety, and demonstrate a genuine intent to support their well-being.

4.     Immediate Reinstatement of Metal Detectors and Enhanced Police Presence
We call for the immediate reinstatement of daily metal detector use and enhanced police presence at SCAHS and Delta School through the end of the 2024–2025 school year. The Abrupt removal of the metal detectors caused a disruption. These measures were initially implemented in direct response to a credible threat, and their sudden removal, without fully prepared alternatives or adequate explanation, has only intensified the anxiety and fear among students, staff and families. Until new and effective safety protocols are fully developed, tested, and communicated transparently, prematurely reversing these protective measures is irresponsible and undermines community confidence. Students and staff deserve not just reassurance but visible and tangible safety measures while trust in the school’s safety infrastructure is being restored. Maintaining these practices temporarily is not about optics, it is about sustaining a basic sense of security during a time of heightened vulnerability.

5.     Clear Protocols and Decision-Making Transparency
We urge the district to adopt a proactive, transparent approach to all safety-related decision-making. Any adjustments to existing safety protocols must be informed by clear evidence, guided by community input, and communicated with advance notice, not after the fact. Parents, students, and staff deserve to understand the rationale behind safety decisions, the data or expert guidance informing them, and how these align with broader district goals for well-being and protection. It is unacceptable to make abrupt, unexplained changes, especially when trust has already been shaken. We request that updates on ongoing investigations, planned protocol changes, and alternative measures under consideration be shared in a timely and public manner, accompanied by opportunities for community feedback. Transparency and collaboration must be standard practice, not retrospective explanations. 

The safety of our children, physical, emotional, and mental, must be paramount. We appreciate your prompt attention to these critical issues and look forward to immediate actions and responses that prioritize transparency, consistency, and student well-being.

Respectfully,

Concerned Community Members