Two Tri-State school districts are on high alert Monday morning after clown-related threats struck close to home.
Reading Community Schools Superintendent Chuck LaFata is urging students follow a series of safety tips as they return to school Monday after a women reported a clown attacked her and threatened students Friday morning, canceling classes.
"I have been working with the Reading Police Department and there will be increased police patrols during the morning and afternoon as our young people walk to and from school," LaFata wrote on the Reading Schools Facebook page. "Our school resource officer will also be present all day in each of our buildings."
Alongside keeping cellphones on and charged while walking to and from school, LaFata recommends students walk in pairs or groups, follow the main route to school and not take shortcuts that may be more dangerous. Students are also being told to report anything suspicious to parents, teachers or administrators at the school.
Across the Ohio River in Grant County, Kentucky, parents got a phone call Sunday night advising them that "digital clown threats" had been received and were not believed to be credible. Nevertheless, Grant County Schools will also have heightened security until whoever was behind the threat is caught.
These two school districts are just examples of several clown-related threats from the past week, with Montgomery Police arresting five Sycamore students after social media threats. Similar arrests were made in Colerain Township and Miami Township.
