Area school districts have spent the last few days quelling rumors and addressing emergency preparedness in the aftermath of last week’s shooting at a school in Parkland, Fla.

Both Palmerton and Pleasant Valley districts dealt with rumors about threats Friday.

Palmerton posted on the district website, “We wanted to send notice to our community that a rumor developed this morning about an alleged threat.”

“Please know that these rumors and gossip are an unfortunate byproduct of recent national events. After an immediate investigation there is no threat to any district operations,” the message continued.

School was operating as usual, Superintendent Scot Engler said.

Pleasant Valley called parents and posted a message on its Facebook page that a middle school student reported a potential threat to building administration.

“Upon investigating the threat, the administration quickly determined the social media post was in reference to the Southern York School District and was in no way related to Pleasant Valley. The Southern York School District became aware of the threat yesterday afternoon and was able to identify the source of the threat and determine it to be not credible,”

“There is no threat to the Pleasant Valley School District,” the district emphasized.

Superintendent David Piperato said Thursday that the Pennsylvania State Police have increased their presence in and around our schools as a precautionary measure.

“Troopers have been driving through our lots and walking our halls. No need for concern. We appreciate their efforts,” he said through social media.

Lehighton Area School District sent a letter to parents and staff Thursday afternoon updating several measures it is looking to strengthen and/or implement.

The morning following the shooting, which took the lives of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Lehighton’s administration met with local emergency personnel to review its procedures and emergency exercises conducted on a regular basis.

“What we found during our discussion was that it is important for us to let the students know that they play an important role in keeping our schools safe,” Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said.

“What we are doing districtwide is discussing with our students the importance of notifying someone in the school when they hear or see something online, for example, that seems threatening or disturbing in nature. It is important for them to feel comfortable and confident that when telling an adult it is the right thing to do.”

Lehighton reviews crisis plans each year, and on March 12, staff will be receiving additional training from the state police in relation to school personnel responses to active shooters.

The district is also looking at adding a school resource officer.

“We submitted a letter to Lehighton Borough with a request to develop a partnership with their police department that would put a full-time police officer on our campus every day our students and staff are in session,” Cleaver said. “The officer will also assist in performing security audits and review our current emergency procedures and plans to determine areas that may need to be revised with regards to student and staff safety.”

Currently, Northern Lehigh and Pleasant Valley school districts have school resource officers.

Lehighton is not the only district looking at adding to its security profile.

At Tuesday night’s Palmerton board meeting, Engler talked about the possible formation of a “district police department.”

“This is really something we’ve been talking about for quite some time and has actually been discussed at board meetings in the past,” Engler said.

Palmerton’s district is split between Palmerton borough and state police coverage.

Any officers the district would bring on board would likely also be utilized at sports events and other extracurricular activities.

“Two years ago, we visited districts that do what we’re talking about doing,” Engler said. “The legwork has really been done and in the past four years, I think we have made great strides in security. This will come down to some additional money and human resources.”

State Rep. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe, has proposed legislation that would fund and mandate that each school building establish a primary entrance that is equipped with a metal detector. Additionally, at least one armed safety officer would be present at all times during school and after school activities.

“As an educational community,” Cleaver said, “we will continue to work with all of the stakeholders because we know when it comes to school safety, it is a concern for everyone.”

Tamaqua Superintendent Raymond J. Kinder sent a letter to parents Thursday, saying the faculty, staff and students in the Tamaqua schools participate in drills during the year, including lockdown drills, fire drills and weather emergency drills. They also take part in safety training and crisis plan meetings.

“Security cameras, building/room access procedures, door locks, and staff greeters are a few items utilized to make students feel safer,” Kinder said.

He said police conduct daytime walk-throughs as a deterrent and to allow officers to become familiar with buildings.

“To support our students, we have increased access to counseling services, assemblies promoting positive self-worth and anti-bullying techniques. Peer mediators are used at times to aide with conflict resolution. It is our hope that these measures promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and security,” Kinder said. “We all need to look out for one another.”

He addressed comments meant as a joke and said students would be disciplined as warranted.

“Unfortunately at times like these, comments meant to be funny are quite upsetting to others and can cause an avalanche of unnecessary fear and unfortunate actions,” Kinder said.