The man, identified by community members as Mark Cozens, had been the subject of an arrest warrant issued Tuesday. His property borders school grounds, and his presence had prompted the district to increase security and implement shelter-in-place procedures, according to the superintendent.

In a message to parents Thursday morning, district officials said school activities, including outdoor activities, would resume as normal. "As an added precaution, we will continue to maintain our additional security presence on campus," the letter said. "We will also remain in close communication with the New Jersey State Police and continue to assess any additional safety measures that may be necessary."

The arrest followed days of mounting anxiety in the community. Several parents said they had kept their children home from school amid concerns about Cozens, and some expressed frustration over what they described as delayed communication from the district.

Parents pointed to a timeline distributed by the district that outlined incidents dating back to Nov. 2. According to the district, the individual drove through the school parking lot twice on Monday and made gestures at security cameras. The district also said it received concerning emails last week indicating self-harm.

Neighbors and parents described loud music coming from the home and what they characterized as disturbing Halloween decorations.

Parents also cited an October incident in which shots were fired from outside the home while children were outside for the Champions after-school care program. They said they first learned about the incident through Facebook rather than from the school.

"They made a post; they heard shooting; they brought the kids inside; they called the police," one parent said.

One eighth-grader, Logan Mount, said the situation had been unsettling. "It's a little nerve-wracking; you never know what he could do," Mount said.

Another parent questioned the timing of the information. "We find out nine days later the timeline and events of this individual that he's been threatening the school where we send our children where we expect the school to keep our children safe," the parent said.

Before the arrest, several parents told reporters they would not send their children back to school until the man was apprehended. "Until this man is in handcuffs, I'm not sending my kids excused or not period," one parent said.

Another parent said, "It's going to turn out bad if he's not taken care of, that includes his mental health and him being apprehended." A third added, "My children are safe at home rather than being in school under a shelter-in-place, doors locked or what have you. That's not going to stop a bullet if this guy decides to go out in blades of glory and starts shooting guns."

The superintendent has sent a letter to the township requesting an ordinance that would restrict the discharge of firearms within a certain distance of school grounds.

With the arrest, district officials said they would keep additional security on campus as a precaution and continue coordinating with state police. School activities were expected to return to normal Thursday.