On Monday, September 18, 2023, at approximately 12:05 pm, the Wyoming Valley West School District became aware of an email threat, identical to those received by other area schools, health care, and the institution of higher learning.

The multiple, concurrent threats on Friday also targeted Lehigh Valley Hospital and Lackawanna College.

Fortunately, no Luzerne County School District, Hospital, or College was affected by the threat being carried out.

Wyoming Valley West was among the last school districts in our area to receive this non-credible threat.

We immediately contacted the Pennsylvania State Police, who earlier, at 9:19 am, had put out an email addressing the potential threat as “non-credible.”

Working in conjunction with all law enforcement agencies/departments in the WVWSD, a joint decision was made that evacuating the entire district was not warranted based on the available information of what was considered a potential “swatting” event.  "Swatting" entails generating an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses.

If at any time the District had felt any credibility existed with this threat, we would have immediately evacuated our buildings.  The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount. 

I encourage any parent/guardian who has any questions or concerns to call me at the Wyoming Valley West Central Office at (570) 288 -6551.

David Tosh, Superintendent

Wyoming Valley West School District