Adams Township police vehicles were stationed outside Mars High School on Wedneday. A 16-year-old girl was arrested Friday after threats led to the cancellation of classes in the entire school district.

ADAMS TWP — A 16-year-old girl was arrested Friday after threats led to the cancellation of classes in the Mars School District.

School officials canceled Friday classes on Thursday night, after rumors of potential violent acts were found on social media. According to Superintendent Wesley Shipley, the rumor was of a bomb threat and shooting alleged to occur at the high school.

At about 1 p.m. Friday, district officials announced an arrest had been made by Adams Township police. The suspect was a 16-year-old girl. No additional details were released.

Police could not be reached for comment on the investigation and no court records were available.

Shipley said he could only confirm an arrest was made, and that the investigation was ongoing.

Shipley said the district plans to press charges to the full extent of the law.

“Threats are not funny,” Shipley said, adding the district has many options for punishment. “This includes expulsion hearings, criminal charges and restitution which will run in the thousands of dollars.”

Friday's incident was the third threat in the district this week.

Students were evacuated from the high school Tuesday and Wednesday following bomb threats. With the added threat of a potential shooter, Shipley said it was best to close the school Friday for the safety of students and staff.

“A shooter isn't something we can search for — like a bomb threat,” he said in an email response to questions. “Because the rumor was vague, (it was) best to close all buildings in the effort to keep everyone safe.”

School officials did not say whether the incidents were related, but police have said their investigation is focused on that possibility.

Dayle Ferguson, school board president, said police were working with Louis Gentile, district safety and security coordinator, to see if there's anything the district can do to better keep staff and students safe.

“He's working with the district to review what we have in place now,” she said. “We've been in contact with him through this process.”

Gentile, founder of CSI Corporate Security & Investigations who has a long background in law enforcement, commended the board and Shipley for their quick response in canceling school and calling the police.

“I can tell you that (things) are going as well as they can be,” he said, given the circumstances.

Not all threats warrant a school cancellation, he said, and often schools are justified in conducting an internal investigation rather than canceling school and making it public, depending on the threat.In this case, however, Gentile said the board made the right call.“I think the public should know that the school board has acted, in my opinion, exactly how they should have,” he said.Gentile has been putting together recommendations for actions and initiatives the school can take in combating similar incidents in the future, but declined to go into detail before presenting these to the board.“There are a number of recommendations we're making to prevent threats and to respond to that,” he said. “One of the things that has to be done, and will be done, is nurturing a culture of confidence on behalf of students and a sense of responsibility.”Gentile said students need to understand the seriousness of making such threats and feel comfortable and confident enough to tell teachers and other adults when they hear or even suspect a threat.Ferguson said the board plans to seriously consider any recommendation Gentile presents.Meanwhile, Shipley reiterated the importance of safety and asked parents to be sure to speak to their children about the severity of threats like these.“Maintaining a safe and secure building for children and staff is most important,” he said. “We take these threats seriously and ask our families to have serious conversations about the events of this week.”Gentile also emphasized the importance of parental involvement as a part of a broader community effort.“This isn't just a school problem, and it's not just a law enforcement problem,” he said. “It's our problem.”Shipley said schools will reopen Monday.

Wesley Shipley