Additional security measures will be in place Thursday at Normal West high school after a threatening note was found in a boys’ restroom.
Police and school officials say they don’t believe the threat is credible. But in an email to parents Wednesday, Normal West Principal Dave Johnson said “we certainly have been taking this seriously” since the message was discovered Tuesday.
The threat read “On Thursday I will shot up this school.” Parents were first emailed about it Tuesday afternoon, and again on Wednesday.
“The question I know you have as a parent is whether to send your child to school? School and school activities will continue as planned. For me, the answer is yes,” Johnson wrote Wednesday. “Each of you will need to make that decision for your child. I understand your lens as a parent and the fear this type of situation now creates for our families.”
Additional security measures will include an increased police presence in and around the school Thursday. Students will only be able to enter the school through certain doors for the remainder of the year.
Normal Assistant Police Chief Eric Klingele told GLT earlier Thursday that the threat was investigated and deemed not credible. NPD regularly has a school resource officer stationed at the school.
In his email to parents, Johnson called Normal West is one of many schools across the country to deal with frustrating anonymous, written threats like this.
“If you choose not to send your child (on Thursday), please call the attendance line,” Johnson wrote. “The absence will be marked as an excused absence, and your child will simply need to make up work missed.”
People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in Bloomington-Normal. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution.
