Post by momto4 on May 14, 2008 8:02:16 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/crosby/948491,2_1_AU14_DENISE_S1.article
Beacon News front page headline story today
School threats just keep coming
At Waubonsie, Aurora Central, SC East and Plainfield, messages cast shadow of fear upon students, parents -- yet the warnings show no sign of stopping
May 14, 2008
These annoying, malicious and always time- and money-wasting school threats just seem to keep rolling in.
In the past few months, the headlines have included East Aurora, Batavia, Kaneland, Geneva and St. Charles North. And now, as summer vacation draws closer, we've got a few more schools to add to the list.
Last Thursday, on a girls restroom stall at Aurora's Waubonsie Valley High School, some idiots left a threatening message indicating the school was going to be blown up today.
And on Monday, someone wrote what police say could have been a racial hate threat on a bathroom wall at Aurora Central Catholic High School -- and the rumor is that Tuesday was the targeted day of violence.
The two messages, while scrawled across town from each other, were worlds apart in how they were handled.
At Waubonsie Valley, authorities were immediately notified, as were parents, who were given the option of keeping their children home today. (On Tuesday, a pair of 16-year-old Naperville girls were charged with falsely making a terrorist threat and criminal defacement to property.)
"Anytime a threat is received, the Aurora police take it very seriously," spokesman Dan Ferrelli wrote in a press release. "The safety of the students is the utmost priority, and we believe we have taken the proper steps and assigned adequate resources to address this situation."
Which is what some parents say Aurora Central failed to do.
Michelle Herrera, for example, was pretty steamed she had to learn from her daughter about the perceived threat at the private school.
"She woke up (on Tuesday) and said, 'Mom, a lot of kids aren't going to school today,'" Herrera said. "She said something was going on at the high school. And that's when I found out about the threat."
Police say they didn't learn about the incident until Aurora Central parents called authorities Monday evening.
"We weren't even sure the bathroom message was a threat," Ferrelli said after the department looked into the matter. "It was very cryptic and could have been construed as graffiti."
Which could be why a spokesman for Aurora Central told me the school was not taking it seriously when I called and asked to speak to the principal.
The Rev. F. William Etheredge did not return my phone calls, so I'm assuming Aurora Central chose to keep the incident private in order to discourage this behavior from happening again.
Which makes sense -- if only these were sensible times.
"Of course we notify parents," said a spokesman at Waubonsie Valley.
"In light of what's happened in schools (around the country), of course we should be notified," Herrera said. "How dare they say we don't need to worry about something like this.
"Communication is vital here. Tell us what is going on, then let us make the decision as to whether we feel our kids would be safe."
Which makes even more sense. Let's face it, the worst possible thing a school can do, especially in today's IMing world, is try to sweep something like this -- cryptic or not -- under the rug.
Even as I'm finishing this column, press releases came in that two more area schools are dealing with this issue. On Tuesday, Plainfield North High School was on lockdown because of a threat. And someone at St. Charles East wrote this on a bathroom wall: I planted bombs across the whole school. Now the people who torment me will die. May 14th will not be forgotten. My main target is 15 students and seven teachers.
I know the specifics because it was included in a phone message that went out to all parents. Like sister school St. Charles North has done in the past, East will be offering a reward of $2,000 to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the arrest of those responsible.
"In our society, instances like this are all taken seriously and must be investigated as we have done and continue to do," Principal Bob Miller told parents.
Which is why, even though St. Charles police felt the threat was not credible, his phone call Tuesday went out to all parents.
Which is why Aurora Central parents like Herrera feel betrayed.
"Even if they have it under control," she said, "I have a right to know what's going on."
Beacon News front page headline story today
School threats just keep coming
At Waubonsie, Aurora Central, SC East and Plainfield, messages cast shadow of fear upon students, parents -- yet the warnings show no sign of stopping
May 14, 2008
These annoying, malicious and always time- and money-wasting school threats just seem to keep rolling in.
In the past few months, the headlines have included East Aurora, Batavia, Kaneland, Geneva and St. Charles North. And now, as summer vacation draws closer, we've got a few more schools to add to the list.
Last Thursday, on a girls restroom stall at Aurora's Waubonsie Valley High School, some idiots left a threatening message indicating the school was going to be blown up today.
And on Monday, someone wrote what police say could have been a racial hate threat on a bathroom wall at Aurora Central Catholic High School -- and the rumor is that Tuesday was the targeted day of violence.
The two messages, while scrawled across town from each other, were worlds apart in how they were handled.
At Waubonsie Valley, authorities were immediately notified, as were parents, who were given the option of keeping their children home today. (On Tuesday, a pair of 16-year-old Naperville girls were charged with falsely making a terrorist threat and criminal defacement to property.)
"Anytime a threat is received, the Aurora police take it very seriously," spokesman Dan Ferrelli wrote in a press release. "The safety of the students is the utmost priority, and we believe we have taken the proper steps and assigned adequate resources to address this situation."
Which is what some parents say Aurora Central failed to do.
Michelle Herrera, for example, was pretty steamed she had to learn from her daughter about the perceived threat at the private school.
"She woke up (on Tuesday) and said, 'Mom, a lot of kids aren't going to school today,'" Herrera said. "She said something was going on at the high school. And that's when I found out about the threat."
Police say they didn't learn about the incident until Aurora Central parents called authorities Monday evening.
"We weren't even sure the bathroom message was a threat," Ferrelli said after the department looked into the matter. "It was very cryptic and could have been construed as graffiti."
Which could be why a spokesman for Aurora Central told me the school was not taking it seriously when I called and asked to speak to the principal.
The Rev. F. William Etheredge did not return my phone calls, so I'm assuming Aurora Central chose to keep the incident private in order to discourage this behavior from happening again.
Which makes sense -- if only these were sensible times.
"Of course we notify parents," said a spokesman at Waubonsie Valley.
"In light of what's happened in schools (around the country), of course we should be notified," Herrera said. "How dare they say we don't need to worry about something like this.
"Communication is vital here. Tell us what is going on, then let us make the decision as to whether we feel our kids would be safe."
Which makes even more sense. Let's face it, the worst possible thing a school can do, especially in today's IMing world, is try to sweep something like this -- cryptic or not -- under the rug.
Even as I'm finishing this column, press releases came in that two more area schools are dealing with this issue. On Tuesday, Plainfield North High School was on lockdown because of a threat. And someone at St. Charles East wrote this on a bathroom wall: I planted bombs across the whole school. Now the people who torment me will die. May 14th will not be forgotten. My main target is 15 students and seven teachers.
I know the specifics because it was included in a phone message that went out to all parents. Like sister school St. Charles North has done in the past, East will be offering a reward of $2,000 to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the arrest of those responsible.
"In our society, instances like this are all taken seriously and must be investigated as we have done and continue to do," Principal Bob Miller told parents.
Which is why, even though St. Charles police felt the threat was not credible, his phone call Tuesday went out to all parents.
Which is why Aurora Central parents like Herrera feel betrayed.
"Even if they have it under control," she said, "I have a right to know what's going on."