The high school was evacuated yesterday morning and all after-school activities were canceled after officials found a bomb threat in the hallway.
School Superintendent John Moretti said he learned of the threat from Norwood High officials around 9:40 a.m. yesterday after they discovered the note.
The note was brought to Principal George Usevich, and Moretti said administrators decided to call the Fire Department.
Moretti said the Fire Department told them there had been evidence of pipe bombs found around town recently and the decision was made to call the bus companies and parents and dismiss students.
"You try to determine whether there is any viability to (the threat), and quite honestly, after communicating with the Fire Department and learning about the pipe bombs, we thought we needed to take that seriously," said Moretti.
He said used the school system's ConnectEd phone system to inform every parent in the district of what was going on.
Moretti said he chose to contact parents of all public school students, regardless of whether they had a child at Norwood High, to keep them informed and make sure everybody had the same information.
Norwood Police Information Officer Paul Bishop said police were called to the school a little before 10 a.m. yesterday and emergency officials searched the building.
"Nothing was found," said Bishop.
Bishop said police are investigating.
Moretti said the school district is also investigating.
"We're doing everything humanly possible to determine who the perpetrator was and I can promise you if we find the person, he or she will no longer be part of the Norwood public schools," said Moretti.
Yesterday was the first time this year students at the high school were dismissed due to a threat. A few weeks ago, Moretti said a note threatening "mayhem" at the school was found and the building was evacuated for a search, but students were then allowed to return to class.
Bishop said that threat is also under investigation.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com.
