When I picked up my son from Radio Park Elemenatry School on Jan. 8, I asked what had been done at the school in response the armed robbery at Kranich’s Jewelers that had taken place about a mile away.

I learned that no action was taken because school was advised that, given the information available, State College Police Chief Tom King did not think Radio Park was in any danger.

Common sense dictates that if the police didn't catch the suspects, then by definition they didn’t know their location. So how could they be so sure there was no danger?

What if the suspects had fled to the wooded area adjacent to the school, and it had led to a hostage situation? My son’s teacher, who had not been alerted, had her class outside for recess from 11 to 11:40 a.m., only about a half hour after the robbery had taken place.

At the very least, all teachers should have been alerted to the potential danger and kept the kids inside for recess that day.

The State College Area School District needs to take a serious look at its current emergency response plan to ensure that, in the future, measured and appropriate action is taken for all potential threats to the safety of the students and district employees.

Cheryl Keller Capone

State College