September 12, 2024

Dear Shaler Area Families,

We are writing to provide follow-up regarding the incident involving a bullet that was found on a Shaler Area school bus on Wednesday, September 11th. After a thorough investigation conducted in collaboration with the Shaler Township Police Department, we have determined that the bullet inadvertently fell from a student’s pants pocket.

The investigation revealed that the bullet belonged to a middle school student who had unintentionally brought it to school after keeping it from a weekend camp outing. The student had forgotten the item was in their pocket, and it accidentally fell out while they were on the bus. The details of the camp outing were confirmed by the student’s parents.

The school district will follow its policies and procedures in addressing this matter with the student. It is important to note that the police department has determined that there was no ill intent in this case, and at no time was there any threat to the safety of our students or staff.

As always, the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain a secure environment for everyone in our school community. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your school principal, district administration or local police.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Bryan E. O’Black, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
Shaler Area School District

J. Sean Frank
Chief of Police
Shaler Township Police Department