Sycamore High School to continue classes after Sunday threat

By ALAN EDRINN

Classes will resume Tuesday at Sycamore High School despite a threat of violence against the school found Sunday.

Sunday, at a local Sycamore business, a threat of violence against the school for Tuesday was found by an employee. The threat did not go into specifics about how the violence would take place, but did say it would take place at Sycamore High School, said Dr. Wayne Riesen, superintendant of Sycamore School District 427. Riesen didn’t know what type of medium the threat was on.

“It was written on a surface at an off-site location. It mentioned the high school, and mentioned [Tuesday’s] date,” said Sycamore Police Chief Don Thomas.

Thomas could not comment on what surface the threat was written on, but said the Sycamore Police Department is investigating it.

Uniformed police officers will be stationed at some locations inside and outside the school, as well as officers in plain clothes throughout the school, Thomas said.

“There will be a visible uniform presence inside and outside the school,” he said.

Entry and exit will only be allowed through the school’s main doors and all doors will remain locked throughout the day. No backpacks, bags or purses will be permitted Tuesday and those brought will be searched and checked into the main office until the end of the day, according to the Sycamore High School Web site.

Student mobility will be limited throughout the day and students may only leave classes with an adult escort.

“This is how these kind of threats are being handled now,” Thomas said. “This is a model being followed by most public schools and facilities.”

Parents who want to excuse their student from class Tuesday are asked to call the attendance office. Counselors are available to talk to students, and a reward is being offered to anyone who assists in the arrest of those responsible for the threat, according to the Web site.

“What happened at Northern has elevated everyone’s awareness of potential violence,” Riesen said. “It’s an unfortunate sign of the times in which we live.”

No school was held on Monday to observe Pulaski Day.

“We’re in the middle of a three-day weekend. In some ways the extra day helped us to prepare; in some ways, it kind of handcuffed us to get the word out to parents and students,” Riesen said.

Anyone with information, concerns or questions can contact the Sycamore Police Department at 815-895-3435. Ask for Lt. Darrell Johnson, Sgt. Steve Cook, or Chief Don Thomas.

The Sycamore High School attendance office can be reached at 815-899-813.