An aerial view of the Cherry Hill High School East campus.
Evacuation procedures at Cherry Hill East High School during a Tuesday bomb threat and its aftermath lacked support and were confusing, according to several students who spoke at a Board of Education meeting that night.
The students also claimed that while no one was physically harmed during the bomb threat — Superintendent Kwame Morton said it was ultimately deemed noncredible — the evacuation of Cherry Hill High School East students to Cherry Hill High School West and other actions took an unnecessary emotional toll.
"We found that there was a lack of appropriate measures taken to secure students," said Selam Bereketab, an East senior. "No roll call or attendance or bed check was taken of students to help them feel safer and aware that their peers were okay."
Another senior, Aralyn Camp, said: "We took issue with the lack of sufficient communication between administration, staff and students. News of the incident spread quickly among students, and many students knew about the specifics and details before teachers."
Morton said that the district followed protocols from the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Department of Education as it took the unprecedented step of moving 2,100 students to another location after the bomb threat.
"An enhanced search of the building to ensure that the building was totally screened and scanned was done. …We went above and beyond the protocol," he said.
Some student questions about the protocol, bag checks and which school entrances can be used during such emergencies went unanswered after School Board President Gina Winters said, "There are things that we can discuss in public session and there are things that we probably should not in order to keep you guys safe."
Winters added that the board "will learn from this and continue to improve."
Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Survey
Shavonne Carter, the district anti-bullying coordinator, shared the results of an October 2024 survey of about 205 families who had a child involved in the district's Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) process as either a victim or perpetrator:
- 67% strongly disagreed or disagreed that the HIB process was "both efficient and clear"
- 62% strongly disagreed or disagreed with the assessment that they were "offered helpful support, information or tools" after the HIB process
- 49% strongly disagreed or disagreed that it was "easy to follow the steps required to appeal a decision related to an HIB case"
- 49% strongly disagreed or disagreed that the HIB process action taken "would prevent recurrence"
- 45% strongly disagreed or disagreed that the final resolution of their HIB case "met their expectations"
Carter said that the school district intends to take multiple steps to improve the HIB process, including updating the letters that are sent to those affected by HIB incidents and establishing a continuous monitoring system for the HIB process.
Checking off the capital improvement "to do" list
Assistant District Superintendent and Business/Board Administrator Lynn Shugars said some recently completed bond referendum projects include:
- Roof panel installation at Joseph D. Sharp Elementary School all-purpose room
- Ductwork and hot water pipe loop system installation at Clara Barton Elementary School all-purpose room
- Fencing installation at Horace Mann Elementary School rear playground
- Epoxy floor installation in Horace Mann Elementary School and James Johnson Elementary School all-purpose room bathrooms
- Stage mini-split system, bathroom fixtures and canopy installation within A. Russell Knight Elementary School all-purpose room.
- Other bond referendum project updates can be found on the district website.
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