Johnsburg student suspended after threat

From the Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Johnsburg student suspended after threat
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

JOHNSBURG – A Johnsburg Junior High student has been suspended after a threatening message was discovered Wednesday on a school bathroom wall.

School officials would not release the student’s name but confirmed that the student had been suspended and possibly faced more severe consequences such as expulsion or criminal charges.

“There’s a possibility for that,” District 12 Superintendent Dan Johnson said. “This type of behavior will not be tolerated.”

The message was discovered about 1:45 p.m., according to a statement released by District 12. The school’s nearly 1,500 students were supervised as police investigated the building until 3 p.m. Officials would not disclose what the message said.

Wednesday’s incident prompted the second lockdown of the school year.

Officials discovered a similar message on a bathroom wall Aug. 22, causing the school to be locked down and students held beyond dismissal time.

Johnson said school authorities were working with the Johnsburg Police Department to determine whether the two incidents were related.

“[We] don’t know if it’s connected to the first one,” he said. “We’re looking at all angles to see if it’s connected.”

Charges have not been filed against the suspended student or any other students yet, Police Chief Ken Rydberg said, but police will meet with that student and possibly others soon.

“We’re just waiting for an opportunity to speak with some of these kids now,” Rydberg said.

In the meantime, school officials hope that their handling of the situations demonstrates that the incident is more serious than a typical prank.

“We are going to create a safe environment for you,” Johnson said. “That’s our No. 1 priority.”