Talk To Your Kids About School Threats: Aurora, Naperville Police

AURORA, IL — Earlier this week, Naperville School District 203 officials restricted access to its high school buildings as a precaution after one of Naperville North High School students were evacuated twice in one month due to bomb threats. While investigations are ongoing, officials ask residents to discuss the issue with their kids and pledge to report threats if they arise.

"In recent weeks, our community has been the victim of several threats involving our schools in Naperville District 203 and Indian Prairie District 204," reads the community letter, signed by Naperville Interim Chief of Police Jason Arres, Aurora Chief of Police Keith Cross, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow and the superintendents of both districts.

"This is highly concerning," the letter continued. "These threats have caused significant disruptions to our learning environments, diverted substantial resources to investigate, and eroded parents', students' and staff members' confidence in their schools being safe environments."

Naperville North was shut down for an entire day in September while police investigated a possible bomb threat against the building that was sent to the school principal, Patch reported. Police found no explosives after a sweep of the building and surrounding areas.

The school went into soft lockdown again Oct. 15 while police investigated a bomb threat received in an email. The threat was traced to a minor in New York, police officials said. Both incidents are still under investigation.

While access to high school buildings is currently restricted due to ongoing investigations by the Aurora and Naperville police departments, only students and staff can enter and exit the buildings until further notice, Patch reported.

Police said the DuPage and Will County state's attorneys' offices are "aggressively" pursuing legal action against perpetrators, and District 203 and 204 will invoke severe discipline that can include explusion.

The affected school districts serve students in Naperville, Aurora, Lisle and Bolingbrook.

In the community letter, officials said they take responsibility for the safety of their communities and feel obligated to once again address the topic. The letter asked parents to help children understand "there is no such thing as 'joking' about bringing a weapon to school, planting a bomb, initiating violence against another, or causing general chaos."

Police said threats — which they described in the letter as "an expression of intent to harm another" — should be reported to school administrators and law enforcement and fact-checked before sharing rumors on social media.

"Especially after the tumultuous few years our students have had navigating remote learning because of a global pandemic, we want nothing more than safe and stable environments for our students to learn and grow in," the letter said. "We are hopeful that by working together, we can reduce the frequency of threats against our schools, calm general anxiety about school safety, and refocus community dialogue on more positive topics, like the growth and education of our students."

RELATED:

• After Threats, New Restrictions For Naperville High Schools
• Naperville North Evacuated After 2nd Threat In 1 Month: Officials
  
• No Bombs Found After Threat At Naperville North, School Canceled

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