As many students and staff entered the campus of Susquehannock on Monday morning, they noticed flashing lights on emergency vehicles and the alarm system going off throughout the school.

  Wayne McCullough, Financial Chief and Operations Director, is proud of how the school district handled the situation.

  “We kept the staff and students out of the building while the fire department

eliminated the odor,” said McCullough. “The high school staff and students, overall with what I saw, did a tremendous job at staying calm.”

  According to McCullough, the electrical malfunction happened in the hallway where the trainer’s room is located; the smoke from the malfunction triggered the life safety system.

  Administrators say that the fire alarms went off around 7:00 a.m., and with school beginning in less than an hour, they had to get everyone where they needed to be at the time.

  Assistant Principal Kevin Molin was concerned as he approached the building.

  “All staff made sure everyone was safe and out of the building,” said Molin. “Then I thought to myself, ‘what’s wrong’?”

  Around 7:45 a.m., students were let in to the building, only being allowed to report to the cafeteria or the auditorium.

  Senior Megan Harman was concerned about what was going on, but she stayed calm.

  “I went to Shrewsbury’s fire engine, since I work for them,” said Harman. “And no one knew till later what the source of the problem was.”

  “As a whole, the student body was outstanding; they stayed calm,” said Molin. “Of course the students were wondering what was going on, and we were honest with them. We really didn’t have any idea as to what was going on either.”

   Everyone cooperated and the fire department stayed for nearly three hours to

find the cause of the alarm system being activated.

  Sophomore Logan Mohar was at the middle school at the time and was then released to the high school where he had to wait in the cafeteria.

  “I was confused at first, but then I knew it was a safe place to be if they let us back in the building,” said Mohar.

  School administration released the students to their classes around 8:45 a.m. The school district along with the fire department determined the cause was in the exterior door where the ballast of the light malfunctioned.