JEFFERSON TWP — A South Butler School Board member is taking to task anyone who saw the video that landed student Jason Bowen in jail and didn't report it.

At Wednesday night's school board meeting, board member Rebecca Boyd profusely thanked the unnamed person who police say took the video of Bowen firing an AK style rifle with the caption “Training for prom walk” to the state police barracks on Sunday night to show troopers.

Bowen now faces various charges, including terroristic threats, and awaits his preliminary hearing in the Butler County Prison on $100,000 cash bond.

Boyd said she heard that students showed their parents the video before an individual ended up reporting it to the police.

“We all learned right from wrong when we were very young,” Boyd said. “Anyone who saw that video had to know that was wrong.”

Boyd said the incident is a huge wake-up call to the community that tragedies can happen at any school.

“I would hope in the future people understand the importance of acting on something like this,” Boyd said. “When you see something, say something.”

She said those who might be uncomfortable going to the police can call the district's anonymous tip line or approach a school board member or administrator.

“For crying out loud, say something,” Boyd said.

She praised the individual who alerted police to the video.

“We are all grateful for this one person who took this to the police,” Boyd said. “I know other people saw that and chose not to act.”

Superintendent David Foley expressed his appreciation for Pat Sarnese, the district's director of school police and transportation, for his assistance during the episode, which frightened local parents.

“He did an awesome job with leading me through the process,” Foley said. “We're very lucky to have (retired) state police (on staff) who have been through a variety of things that teachers haven't.”

He also commended the local police departments that dealt with the issue.

“The collaboration the school district has with the police departments is exceptional,” he said.

Foley said it was a relief to attend an education committee meeting this week and talk about academic pursuits in the schools, especially after the chilling events of Monday.

“Sometimes you just lose sight of a student sitting at a desk or an elementary student who wants to come to school to learn,” he said.