THOMAS R.

MITCHELL
Superintendent

JACKLYN C. HANIK
Business Manager

Unified in a commitment to inspire and to empower resilient, lifelong learners. AMY D. BROWN, D.Ed.
Director of Curriculum
WESTMONT HILLTOP SCHOOL DISTRICT
222 Fair Oaks Drive, Johnstown, PA 15905 NICOLE A. CRAMER, D.Ed.
814.255.6751 / 814.255.7735 fax Director of Student Services
www.whsd.org

February 6, 2023

Parents and Guardians,

Per the information released by the Cambria County District Attorney this morning, a suspect in
connection to the threatening letter posted at the Jr.-Sr. High School, was apprehended by
police. In the early morning hours, I learned a suspect was in police custody. With a suspect in
custody, the timing of the apprehension, and the already scheduled police presence at both
schools, there was no reason to cancel school today.

Because the suspect is a juvenile, I am not able to release any additional details about the
incident or how the suspect was apprehended. This is a police matter and we do not want to
hamper their investigation or the District Attorney’s prosecution. We are thankful for our local
police departments: Upper Yoder Police Department and West Hills Regional Police
Department, for their efforts in bringing this matter to a conclusion.

The resolution of the situation does not change our vigilance and commitment to school safety.
The safety of our students and security of your schools remains a top priority. We continue to
follow our protocols, best practices, and guidelines in collaboration with local law enforcement.
We ask the same from our community, students, and employees.

Please remain attentive and if you see or hear something that is worrisome or concerning,
please say something immediately. The Safe2Say app is monitored 24-hours a day by the office
of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Also, if the situation is an emergency, Cambria
County 911 is available 24-hours a day. School safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Thanks,

Thomas R. Mitchell

GO HILLTOPPERS!
An Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of the Westmont Hilltop School District not to discriminate in employment or program services for reasons of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or handicapping condition.