FBI enters school video threat case

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

The FBI is now involved in the investigation into two YouTube videos that threatened three Niskayuna High School students.

Superintendent Susan Kay Salvaggio said the FBI is trying to get a subpoena to force YouTube to determine the source of the videos.

“We’re hoping they can move fairly quickly to make progress,” she told the Board of Education on Tuesday night. “It’s not that we’re withholding information, it’s we don’t have information to share. I think that is causing distress for some of our students and some of our parents.”

The first video was brought to school officials’ attention Thursday and the second one Friday. The videos have created an unsettling atmosphere over the school, according to Salvaggio. “Most of what we’re dealing with is rumor and speculation. People are taking a little piece of something and it’s becoming a bigger thing.”

In addition, school officials and police investigated a rumor that there was going to be a shooting at the school Monday. “There was no basis to that,” she said.

Principal John Rickert and Assistant Principal Mark Treanor were in the building late Sunday night checking specific areas of the school, according to Salvaggio.

She said the rumor was perhaps a spinoff of the concern about the two videos. Police have been in the building on and off since the videos first appeared.

Salvaggio said there was also a report that a new video had been posted but Rickert said it was just one of the first videos, reposted.

“My hope [is] that this can be resolved soon and we can get back to our main focus, which is learning,” she said.

Niskayuna Police Chief John Lubrant said Tuesday there were no updates on the case.

In a related item, Salvaggio said she is reviewing methods for communicating with parents. Also as part of her ongoing outreach, Salvaggio has scheduled informal “coffee chats” in the Board of Education Conference Room at the district office on Van Antwerp Road. The first will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, the second from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 12.