On Friday, March 1, Pleasant Valley Middle School became a chaotic scene when it instituted a restricted movement policy that left students, parents and some teachers baffled.

Was it a lockdown? Was there a threat of a shooter? If everything is fine, then why all the restrictions, why all the police officers?

More than a week later, parents are still wondering what exactly happened, and why weren’t they notified sooner?

Seventh-grader Mia Battagalino said she was in third period when around 10 a.m. the teacher got a call. Quickly, the teacher closed the door, turned out the lights, and told the students to shelter in place.

Mia’s father, Frank Battagalino, said his daughter told him she comforted a girl in her class who started crying. The girl had been through a similar situation at her old school.

“The kids are scared,” he said.

Battagalino said as soon as his wife called him about the situation, he left to get their daughter at school. He said he was surprised when he ended up driving behind police cars headed for the same place. When he got there, the parking lot had about 20 police cars in it.

He parked his car, got out and walked to the school where a large number of parents had already gathered to get their children. Battagalino said there were so many parents there that staff had to come out with computers to take their names and check identification before they could release their children.

Battagalino said Pleasant Valley Middle School Principal Kendall Askins came out and told them everything was fine and their children were safe.

“(Askins) said there’s nothing going on,” Battagalino said, “so why such a show of police force.”

It was scary for him, too.

“You’re always afraid you’re going to get that call,” he said.

Diane Everitt, who has a son in sixth grade, said she didn’t know about the situation until her friend texted her. The friend had just received a text from her daughter.

At 10:08 a.m., Everitt texted her son that she was on her way to the school to pick him up. She didn’t hear anything from him. She texted again at 10:28 a.m. to say she had arrived at the school. Finally, he texted back and said they aren’t allowed to leave. She told him she was taking him home.

Up to that point, she said she hadn’t received any information from the school district.

“We were all standing outside the school when I got the call from the school district,” Everitt said.

It would be another hour before she could get her son. When she did finally get him, he told her, “I’m glad I made it home alive.”

Trooper Anthony Petroski III, the public information officer with the Pennsylvania State Police Troop N-Hazleton, confirmed that state police were present at the school that Friday assisting the district. He didn’t say how many officers were present.

Everitt said she isn’t upset about how long it took to get her son. She understands that they have to make sure that the children all get to the right parents. She’s upset with the lack of communication from the school district.

“I don’t think parents should have found out a 12-year-old was arrested via the news,” she said as an example, referring to the arrest of a Pleasant Valley Middle School student on Feb. 26.

Regarding the arrest, both Battagalino and Everitt said the school district didn’t send out information to parents until days later.

Everitt said she respects the teachers, and isn’t upset with the principal. She just thinks communication needs to be improved.

“Parents feel like they are being lied to,” she said.

Everitt said the students seem to know more about what is going on than the parents. She said her son heard that a threat of a shooting was made by another student via Snapchat, because it can’t be saved. The picture deletes right after it’s sent. The threat was of a shooting on either March 6, 8 or 13.

“The district didn’t give us any dates,” Everitt said. “But they didn’t confirm nor deny the dates.”

Both parents think the school needs metal detectors at the doors. Battagalino thinks the school should go to remote learning until metal detectors can be installed. After all, the students did remote learning during the pandemic for safety reasons, so they could do it again for a little while.

“COVID wasn’t coming to my house with a gun,” Battagalino said.

Superintendent James Konrad sent a letter to parents on Tuesday letting them know that state police would be present at the middle school on Wednesday (March 6) “as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety to our students and staff.”

Konrad went on to say that safety procedures have been reviewed and updated “to enhance communication among students, staff, and parents/guardians.” The updates were made in order to improve the school district’s response “to any potential safety concerns and ensuring that everyone is informed and prepared.”

Konrad said, “Your child’s safety is our top priority, and we want to assure you that we are taking every step possible to maintain a secure learning environment.”