A week after making a bomb threat at the Windham High School, a Windham student is awaiting a November court date on charges of terrorizing.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, teachers at the high school found a note written in pink highlighter, threatening of a bomb in the building. The note, which appeared to be written by a young woman, was found in a faculty member’s mailbox.

As a result of the incident, the school has changed the locks to the faculty mailroom.

“It’s just a shame that this kind of thing happens,” said Henry Keisman, a school custodian who changed the locks. “What a waste of taxpayers’ money and time, and that of the kids that go to school wanting to learn something.”

Immediately after last Wednesday’s bomb scare, school staff followed protocol, evacuating the students to the middle school on the other side of the grounds, and reporting the threat to the police. School Resource Officer Jeff Smith was at the Gorham police firing range at the time.

At approximately 9:25 a.m., Windham Detective Ronald Ramsdell approached Smith at the firing range, informing him of the situation. Ramsdell reported directly to the school while Smith returned to his home and changed into his uniform.

Already at the school were several other Windham officers – their police cruisers parked at the entrances to the parking lots.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department had already been contacted, and the police patrolled the evacuated building while they awaited County’s arrival. County arrived shortly afterward with bomb sniffing dogs.

“After a thorough investigation, no explosive device was found,” said Ramsdell. “These things usually end up this way, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Upon further investigation, Smith traced the note to a 17-year-old female student at the high school. The student was arrested at 11:45 a.m., Thursday morning, Oct. 12.

“With the help of some concerned students and staff, Officer Smith was able to track the note back to the girl, who confessed to writing it,” said Ramsdell.

“This would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts of the students and administration,” said Smith.

Smith arrested the student on a Class-C felony charge, terrorizing by way of threatening of a public building that resulted in its evacuation. The girl was later released to her parents.

“She’s on something similar to adult bail,” Smith said.

“The case has been handed over to the District Attorney’s office,” Ramsdell said. “It’s their call now.”

At this time, the case is under further review by the state, looking to a court date in November.

Except for Class A crimes, it is against the newspaper’s policy to print the names of juveniles who are arrested or convicted.