3 Pittsburgh Public Schools on modified lockdown after alleged social media threat

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pittsburgh Public Schools has placed three schools on modified lockdown after an alleged threat was shared on social media.

A district spokesperson said on Wednesday that Pittsburgh West Liberty PreK-5, Pittsburgh South Brook 6-8 and Pittsburgh Pioneer Education Center will follow a modified lockdown schedule for the remainder of the week. The schools share a campus in Pittsburgh’s Brookline neighborhood.

“The safety of our students and staff is a top priority,” the district’s spokesperson said. 

According to Pittsburgh Public Schools, a modified lockdown means no one can enter or exit the school building facility without an appointment. 

The district’s spokesperson added that city and school police will be present during arrival and dismissal on Thursday. 

“It’s scary, especially with all the different shootings and other things. I don’t want to take the chance of losing my kids,” said parent Joshua Penn, who has two kids who go to West Liberty Elementary. 

“To be safe, we actually kept our kids home from school and we’re doing some remote learning with them,” he said. 

Penn isn’t the only one in the Brookline neighborhood who made that decision. Pittsburgh Public sent a message to parents announcing a two-day modified lockdown. Another parent who also opted to keep their kids home responded with a message asking if keeping their kids home would count toward an absence. The district responded that it would be excused.  

“We’re just going to send them in with a note,” Penn said. 

When it comes to the specifics of the threat, a district spokesperson said they will not comment on it further since it’s under investigation.