Post by title1parent on Oct 31, 2009 3:48:12 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=333046&src=76
Threatening note leads to 'soft lockdown' at Naperville Central
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 10/31/09
A threatening note found taped outside a classroom Friday led Naperville Central officials to place the high school on "soft lockdown" for several hours and kept students in the building well past the usual end of the school day.
Police would not disclose the contents of the note, but said it was discovered by a staff member and was detailed enough to cause concern.
"For the safety ... of the Naperville Central community, you don't want to underreact," Sgt. Gregg Bell said at a Friday evening news conference.
Naperville police conducted a room-by-room search of the school at 440 W. Aurora Ave. to determine if there was any danger. Every student was also patted down "just to make sure no one was in possession of anything they should not have been in possession of," Bell said.
No one has been apprehended in connection with the incident.
Asked about rumors earlier in the week about a gun being brought to school, Bell said police do not currently believe there is any connection but they are still investigating.
Wiesbrook would not elaborate on the rumors. However, he said Friday's incident should serve as a reminder to students that both the school and police take threats very seriously.
Students remained in school well past the scheduled 3:10 p.m. dismissal time; the last student left the building around 5 p.m.
When they were permitted to leave, they did so section by section in "fire drill-like fashion," said Melea Smith, director of communications for Naperville Unit District 203.
Students were not allowed to go to their lockers except those who needed to retrieve car keys. Those students were escorted by police.
Sophomore Alyssa Borgetti was one of the last to leave after spending more than three hours in a classroom in the flat wing.
"It was really hectic because no one knew what was going on, our teacher didn't know anything," she said. "We'd get e-mails but that was it."
Students were encouraged to use their cell phones to call or text their parents to let them know they were safe. School buses made two trips Friday afternoon to get students home.
Police then did a second sweep of the building with canine units Friday evening and released it back into the control of the school district.
Principal Bill Wiesbrook said he was proud of how the staff, students and police handled the situation.
"They handled the situation confidently and calmly and made sure the number one priority was our students' safety," he said.
The incident forced the school to push back the start of its playoff football game by a half-hour to 7:30 p.m. Friday night.
Police searched the stadium before the game to ensure there was nothing harmful.
Students will be allowed back into the school from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday to retrieve items from their lockers. Wiesbrook said he expects classes to resume Monday as usual.
"I would just reassure and remind our community that I have full confidence in the Naperville Central community," Wiesbrook said. "We have tremendous students, very cooperative, tremendous parents. I think Monday will be another safe, orderly great day of education at Naperville Central High School."
Anyone with information abut the incident is asked to call Naperville Crime Stoppers at (630) 420-6006. Callers may remain anonymous.
Threatening note leads to 'soft lockdown' at Naperville Central
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 10/31/09
A threatening note found taped outside a classroom Friday led Naperville Central officials to place the high school on "soft lockdown" for several hours and kept students in the building well past the usual end of the school day.
Police would not disclose the contents of the note, but said it was discovered by a staff member and was detailed enough to cause concern.
"For the safety ... of the Naperville Central community, you don't want to underreact," Sgt. Gregg Bell said at a Friday evening news conference.
Naperville police conducted a room-by-room search of the school at 440 W. Aurora Ave. to determine if there was any danger. Every student was also patted down "just to make sure no one was in possession of anything they should not have been in possession of," Bell said.
No one has been apprehended in connection with the incident.
Asked about rumors earlier in the week about a gun being brought to school, Bell said police do not currently believe there is any connection but they are still investigating.
Wiesbrook would not elaborate on the rumors. However, he said Friday's incident should serve as a reminder to students that both the school and police take threats very seriously.
Students remained in school well past the scheduled 3:10 p.m. dismissal time; the last student left the building around 5 p.m.
When they were permitted to leave, they did so section by section in "fire drill-like fashion," said Melea Smith, director of communications for Naperville Unit District 203.
Students were not allowed to go to their lockers except those who needed to retrieve car keys. Those students were escorted by police.
Sophomore Alyssa Borgetti was one of the last to leave after spending more than three hours in a classroom in the flat wing.
"It was really hectic because no one knew what was going on, our teacher didn't know anything," she said. "We'd get e-mails but that was it."
Students were encouraged to use their cell phones to call or text their parents to let them know they were safe. School buses made two trips Friday afternoon to get students home.
Police then did a second sweep of the building with canine units Friday evening and released it back into the control of the school district.
Principal Bill Wiesbrook said he was proud of how the staff, students and police handled the situation.
"They handled the situation confidently and calmly and made sure the number one priority was our students' safety," he said.
The incident forced the school to push back the start of its playoff football game by a half-hour to 7:30 p.m. Friday night.
Police searched the stadium before the game to ensure there was nothing harmful.
Students will be allowed back into the school from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday to retrieve items from their lockers. Wiesbrook said he expects classes to resume Monday as usual.
"I would just reassure and remind our community that I have full confidence in the Naperville Central community," Wiesbrook said. "We have tremendous students, very cooperative, tremendous parents. I think Monday will be another safe, orderly great day of education at Naperville Central High School."
Anyone with information abut the incident is asked to call Naperville Crime Stoppers at (630) 420-6006. Callers may remain anonymous.