The school year is over at Panther Valley Junior-Senior High School, but parents’ frustration over a series of lockdowns is not.

Three parents raised their concerns to the school board at the meeting Wednesday night, demanding that something be done to ensure students’ safety after multiple threats and incidents that caused the school to be locked down in the second half of the year.

On two separate incidents, the school was locked down because a bullet was found in a common area. In three other incidents, the school was locked down due to a threatening note.

Carol Loggins, whose son is entering eighth grade, said she doesn’t believe there’s a plan in place. She lamented that children today have to face threats when they go into school.

“I’m very concerned about the safety at the school. I would like some answers as to what you are doing,” she said.

Loggins said that she believes there is not sufficient security at the front door of the high school, and that someone could exploit that to harm students.

She was joined by Robert Friend, who said he believes there needs to be better security at the front door.

Marco D’Ancona said he felt like there were more than five lockdowns this year. He said the district needs to take action rather than talk.

“With no answers, the parents are worried and concerned about bringing their children to school,” he said.

District officials said they are actively working on improving school safety, but they can’t be specific about their plans.

Summit Hill police have charged at least three students in recent months for threats or leaving bullets that caused the school to be placed under lockdown.

Superintendent Dennis Kergick has said that the district is considering adding its own armed security in the future. He said the district applies for grants to increase its security measures each year.

School board president Wayne Gryzik said the school district takes the threat seriously.

“You’re right, it’s a different time. I want to ensure you we’re working on different avenues to address it,” he said.

Any increase in security would mean extra expenses in the district’s budget. The school already owns a metal detector, but Kergick said it would take six people to screen all 700 students at the JSHS each day.

“Right now, the only people who are allowed to go through a student’s belongings are a police officer, a principal, or myself,” he said.

The district is already projecting a budget deficit for 2018-19. During Wednesday’s meeting, the school board rejected a spending plan that raised taxes and still had a deficit.

The parents said that they will continue to show up at board meetings until they believe the district is doing more about security.

“I’m not here to blame you, but let’s get the community together, let’s do something,” D’Ancona said.