MONROE - "This is serious, and it has to stop," Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said Monday, after a third threat in eight school days was dealt with Monday at Monroe High School.
Monday's incident did not lead to an evacuation of students and staff, as two other threats on March 26 and March 30 had. This time, an "extremely specific threat related to a specific room" was found at about 1 p.m. Monday written lightly on a bench in the room. District Curriculum Coordinator Jennifer Thayer said the note referred to a bomb.
The school was not evacuated because police and school officials already had searched the room Friday evening after receiving an anonymous tip, Superintendent Larry Brown said.
"No evacuation of the students and staff was necessary," the Monroe School District said in a note on its Web site Monday. School officials chose not to evacuate the building Monday after consulting FBI guidelines for evacuations.
Brown wouldn't give any details about those guidelines, or about extra security measures the district has in place.
Kelley said parents should realize the district has taken all threats seriously. In addition to the high school threats, Monroe Middle School was evacuated March 31 after a threat was found on a bathroom mirror there.
Kelley said the note found Monday wasn't written in a manner suggesting someone was planning anything.
"You had to see the note from a specific angle in order to see it," Kelley said. He said it was written lightly and not in bold print that would make it easy to see.
Kelley said the person who wrote the note might think it's a prank, but it isn't being treated that way by police. "There are state laws and federal laws about making threats," Kelley said.
Bomb threats are considered a class H felony in Wisconsin and can carry a six-year prison sentence and fines up to $10,000.
Kelley said the police are investigating the notes and said he believes the person or persons will eventually be caught.
"I know some people think it shouldn't take very long, but we have to do our investigation," he said.
Kelley said students can come forward if they have information.
"You'd hope the students would be getting fed up with this," he said.
Brown said the school district has made some changes to make sure parents are aware of any threats. Thayer has been put in charge of releasing initial information to parents and the media. She sent out e-mails Monday to parents signed up for the district's Family Access program through the district Web site. Brown said the e-mails went to parents of high school students. Thayer also posted a message on the school district's Web site. The Monroe Times was contacted early Monday afternoon.
Brown said anyone who wants to receive an e-mail should sign up to receive them, and suggested anyone who has changed their e-mail address contact the district to make sure it has a correct address.
The school also plans a reward, but Brown said the amount hasn't been finalized.
UPDATE: Graffiti was found on a bathroom wall Tuesday morning at Monroe Middle School. The graffiti was not a threat, Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said late this morning, but police were called in to investigate.
Brown said a notice was posted on the district's Web site, and e-mails will be sent to parents of middle school parents who are signed up to the district's Family Access program.
Monday's incident did not lead to an evacuation of students and staff, as two other threats on March 26 and March 30 had. This time, an "extremely specific threat related to a specific room" was found at about 1 p.m. Monday written lightly on a bench in the room. District Curriculum Coordinator Jennifer Thayer said the note referred to a bomb.
The school was not evacuated because police and school officials already had searched the room Friday evening after receiving an anonymous tip, Superintendent Larry Brown said.
"No evacuation of the students and staff was necessary," the Monroe School District said in a note on its Web site Monday. School officials chose not to evacuate the building Monday after consulting FBI guidelines for evacuations.
Brown wouldn't give any details about those guidelines, or about extra security measures the district has in place.
Kelley said parents should realize the district has taken all threats seriously. In addition to the high school threats, Monroe Middle School was evacuated March 31 after a threat was found on a bathroom mirror there.
Kelley said the note found Monday wasn't written in a manner suggesting someone was planning anything.
"You had to see the note from a specific angle in order to see it," Kelley said. He said it was written lightly and not in bold print that would make it easy to see.
Kelley said the person who wrote the note might think it's a prank, but it isn't being treated that way by police. "There are state laws and federal laws about making threats," Kelley said.
Bomb threats are considered a class H felony in Wisconsin and can carry a six-year prison sentence and fines up to $10,000.
Kelley said the police are investigating the notes and said he believes the person or persons will eventually be caught.
"I know some people think it shouldn't take very long, but we have to do our investigation," he said.
Kelley said students can come forward if they have information.
"You'd hope the students would be getting fed up with this," he said.
Brown said the school district has made some changes to make sure parents are aware of any threats. Thayer has been put in charge of releasing initial information to parents and the media. She sent out e-mails Monday to parents signed up for the district's Family Access program through the district Web site. Brown said the e-mails went to parents of high school students. Thayer also posted a message on the school district's Web site. The Monroe Times was contacted early Monday afternoon.
Brown said anyone who wants to receive an e-mail should sign up to receive them, and suggested anyone who has changed their e-mail address contact the district to make sure it has a correct address.
The school also plans a reward, but Brown said the amount hasn't been finalized.
UPDATE: Graffiti was found on a bathroom wall Tuesday morning at Monroe Middle School. The graffiti was not a threat, Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said late this morning, but police were called in to investigate.
Brown said a notice was posted on the district's Web site, and e-mails will be sent to parents of middle school parents who are signed up to the district's Family Access program.