Penn Wood school's arson closing frustrating

The unsolved arson that has shut down Penn Wood High School evidently has become a source of growing anxiety in the Delaware County district.

"The frustration is not being able to have anyone identified at this point," said Joseph Bruni, superintendent of the William Penn School District. "That's creating enormous emotional stress here in the district, especially in the high school."

Bruni himself has kicked in $1,000 toward what now is a $15,000 reward for information in the investigation.

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams (D., Phila.) pledged $8,000 to the reward fund, and the office of State Rep. Ronald Waters (D., Delaware) $5,000. On Monday, the school district posted a $2,000 reward on its website, which includes Bruni's contribution, $700 from the teachers' union, and $300 from an anonymous donor. The reward is being administered by the Citizens' Crime Commission.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Pa.) has asked the U.S. Attorney General's Office to join the investigation into the fire and a subsequent bomb threat Friday against the building that is accommodating the displaced juniors and seniors.

The fire early April 18 forced the closing of Penn Wood's Green Avenue campus in Lansdowne for the rest of the school year.

Fifteen hundred Green Avenue students are doubled up in William Penn's other high school, on Cypress Street in Yeadon, with 11th and 12th graders in school from 6:45 to 11 a.m. and the ninth and 10th graders who ordinarily use the school there from 11:15 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"They're really holding up," Bruni said. "It's uniting them. They really want to find out who's behind this thing. Not only has it inconvenienced them, but the school is important to them. It's very sad."

The high school has not had to cancel any sporting or other events, he said. The end-of-the-year band concerts are to be held at the Cypress Street location, and as planned, the senior prom will be held at a hotel in Philadelphia and graduation at Temple University.

Bruni said he hoped the Green Avenue high school would be repaired by September.

Anyone with information on the arson or bomb threat is asked to call the Citizens' Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.