District 113A Evaluating Safety Measures after Fake Bomb Theats

Administrators in Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A said they are focused on student safety and "uninterrupted education" after two recent bomb scares prompted investigations and evacuations at Old Quarry Middle School.

In both incidents—first on Sept. 24, then again Oct. 1—a written bomb threat was discovered in an Old Quarry bathroom, forcing school officials to follow safety protocol and notify local law enforcement.

The Sept. 24 incident resulted in a soft lockdown while police searched the building. Nothing suspicious was found, and normal activities resumed after about 30 minutes.

The Oct. 1 threat—discovered on the wall of a girls' bathroom—was credible enough at the time to prompt a full evacuation, according to Old Quarry Principal Bill Caron.

Students and staff were moved to the nearby CORE Fitness and Aquatic Complex for about 80 minutes while Lemont police and the Cook County bomb squad conducted a sweep of the building. Again, nothing suspicious was found.

District 113A Superintendent Susan Birkenmaier said there is no reason to believe the two incidents were related, and that every precaution was taken to ensure student safety.

"Safety comes first in everything we do, so we take all threats very seriously," Birkenmaier said. 

For some District 113A parents, last week's threats were reminiscent of a similar incidents that occurred earlier this year. 

In March, an unsubstantiated bomb threat written on a bathroom wall resulted in a 30-minute soft lockdown, while a chalk message outside Oakwood in May prompted heightened security at the Oakwood-River Valley campus. 

A middle school student ultimately assumed responsibility for the incident in May.

READ: Middle School Student Admits to Writing Oakwood Bomb Threat

Although no specific actions are being taken as a result of the recent threats, the district is "constantly looking at ways to improve security," Birkenmaier said.

"It's part of an ongoing conversation," Birkenmaier said. "We are working with our local police and having discussions internally. There are always things we can improve." 

Caron said the school is looking at a variety of ways to address the threats, starting with presentations by Lemont police officers. He plans to address the incidents during a faculty meeting Monday.

"Some of our teachers are already collecting ideas from students on ways we can prevent things like this from happening," Caron said. 

On Friday, Caron emailed parents the monthly Old Quarry newsletter, which included a full-page essay on the impact of the threats and the importance of "uninterrupted education." 

"Students lose focus, they become afraid, they are distracted from the most important parts of their school day. And it is all caused by one or two of their schoolmates who think it is OK to write something on a bathroom wall," Caron wrote.

Caron said he hopes to focus on students who are doing the right thing, rather than those who are causing disruptions. He also encouraged parents to talk to their kids about their behavior."

"We want to focus on the positive things we're doing and encourage kids to do the right thing," Caron said.

Meanwhile, school and law enforcement officials will continue to investigate the bomb threats. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Old Quarry at 630-257-2286 or the Lemont Police Department at 630-243-2750.

Students who damage school property and/or engage in threatening activities could face suspension or even expulsion, according to the District 113A handbook.