Following reports about vague threats connected to its secondary schools, Seneca Valley School District increased its police presence at the buildings Monday, Sept. 16, and is asking for the community’s assistance in a Sunday announcement to its website.

The district became aware of the threats, most coming from the Snapchat app, prompting an investigation that deemed the threats “noncredible.”

“It is important for us to ask questions to our children about social media threats (especially regarding Snapchat) or rumors in order to gain credible information that can be immediately reported to us for an investigation,” superintendent Tracy Vitale said in the website post. “Also, when a student or adult reposts or shares a post that is not verified/true, please know it exacerbates the situation and makes it more difficult for police to investigate.

“Providing detailed information, including screenshots, names and dates is critical and certainly the most effective way for such a situation to be addressed.”

The post, made at about 3 p.m. Sunday, indicated that the district had worked closely with law enforcement to investigate the threats for the past 36 hours. This included interviews with the involved parties, she said.

Vitale said the district and law enforcement will fully prosecute any individual found to be a part of any threat now or in the future.

People with information that will help the administration or police regarding situations in the district should contact Seneca Valley or the police directly.

Jason Young, Seneca Valley safety and security director, is available at 724-452-6040, ext. 1620, or by email at youngjt@svsd.net.

The announcement on Seneca Valley’s website comes the weekend after Butler Area and Slippery Rock Area school districts closed their doors Thursday citing threats and an “abundance of caution” respectively.

In a Thursday email, Butler Area School District superintendent Brian White said the district is pursuing legal action against a social media site for not taking corrective action or alerting the district about a “significant volume of threatening posts” that were made.

He also noted that the district will take steps to hold those who are responsible for the threats accountable for their actions. White met Thursday morning with Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger.

The Butler Area and Slippery Rock Area school districts returned to their normal schedules Friday and continued to operate that way Monday.

White asked parents to report any threatening message their children receive through texts or social media by contacting the district or police. He highlighted the Safe2Say platform as the best way to contact the district via 1-844-SAF2SAY or www.safe2saypa.org.