MONROE - Despite cooperation between the Monroe school district and the Monroe Police Department, nothing can really be done to stop a future evacuation, according to the Monroe police chief.
On Tuesday, Monroe Middle School was evacuated at about 10:15 a.m. after a written threat was found written in a bathroom, Superintendent Larry Brown said.
Middle school students were taken to the high school for about two hours.
The evacuation was the second one for the district and the third in less than a week; the high school was also evacuated Thursday after a threatening note was found written on a bathroom wall.
"I think the school district has done everything it can to prevent these things," Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said. "There's nothing you can do to make it 100 percent preventable."
Kelley said the Monroe school district has taken a "disciplined" approach to make the schools secure.
"All of our schools have (a) restrictive area and there is only one unlocked entrance into the schools," he said.
Kelley said parents and others are allowed to come into the schools but must come through a main door.
"Other than have the school completely locked from the time school begins until the time it ends and not allow anyone in, there really isn't anything else the school can do," he said.
Neither the Monroe Police Department or the Green County Sheriff's Department has a bomb-sniffing dog. The departments do have drug-sniffing dogs. Kelley said Dane County has a dog that can search for explosives. A dog wouldn't be able to search an entire school, however, because the building would be too large and that would overwork the dog.
"If there was a specific area or you had a package then the dog could search," Kelley said. If that happened, a bomb squad would respond, he added.
Kelley said the best way to prevent threats in the school is for students and parents to realize the consequences.
Making a threat is a felony, and a person over the age of 17 who makes a threat would be charged as an adult. Anyone under the age of 17 would also face charges and could also lose their driver's license for two years. In addition, if any damage was done, the parents could be held responsible.
Kelley said students can help prevent threats by being aware and contacting school staff or by calling the Monroe Police Department 329-2400 or the Green County Sheriff's Department 328-9400.
On Tuesday, Monroe Middle School was evacuated at about 10:15 a.m. after a written threat was found written in a bathroom, Superintendent Larry Brown said.
Middle school students were taken to the high school for about two hours.
The evacuation was the second one for the district and the third in less than a week; the high school was also evacuated Thursday after a threatening note was found written on a bathroom wall.
"I think the school district has done everything it can to prevent these things," Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said. "There's nothing you can do to make it 100 percent preventable."
Kelley said the Monroe school district has taken a "disciplined" approach to make the schools secure.
"All of our schools have (a) restrictive area and there is only one unlocked entrance into the schools," he said.
Kelley said parents and others are allowed to come into the schools but must come through a main door.
"Other than have the school completely locked from the time school begins until the time it ends and not allow anyone in, there really isn't anything else the school can do," he said.
Neither the Monroe Police Department or the Green County Sheriff's Department has a bomb-sniffing dog. The departments do have drug-sniffing dogs. Kelley said Dane County has a dog that can search for explosives. A dog wouldn't be able to search an entire school, however, because the building would be too large and that would overwork the dog.
"If there was a specific area or you had a package then the dog could search," Kelley said. If that happened, a bomb squad would respond, he added.
Kelley said the best way to prevent threats in the school is for students and parents to realize the consequences.
Making a threat is a felony, and a person over the age of 17 who makes a threat would be charged as an adult. Anyone under the age of 17 would also face charges and could also lose their driver's license for two years. In addition, if any damage was done, the parents could be held responsible.
Kelley said students can help prevent threats by being aware and contacting school staff or by calling the Monroe Police Department 329-2400 or the Green County Sheriff's Department 328-9400.