District: Despite Threat, High School Safe and Secure

The West Orange School District announced Monday the recent graffiti found in a West Orange High School lavatory warning of a bomb threat has been taken seriously but it believes the threat is a prank and school will go on as planned Tuesday.

"We believe this is a prank bomb threat which does not directly indicate the high school is the target," Interim Superintendent Jim O'Neill said. "Nevertheless, we take this and any threat of this kind very seriously."

The graffiti was found on a bathroom wall of West Orange High School on April 24 and warned of a bomb threat by the end of the month, police said. 

At that time, the district said threat was an "adolescent prank."

The administration reassured parents the high school is safe and secure with no indication the threat is credible. Police presence will also be increased in the high school Tuesday. 

However in a reverse-911 call to parents Monday, the district said it would respect whatever choice parents make about there child. 

"Investigations by the police and the high school administration give no indication the threat is real but we understand some parents may be hesitant to send your student to school," O'Neill said. "We believe West Orange High School is and remains safe and secure."

The incident remains under investigation by West Orange police.