By Howard Packowitz and Angeles Ponpa
WASHINGTON, Ill. (25 News) – The superintendent of Washington Community High School District 308 tells 25 News that the school is continuing to implement safety measures “out of an abundance of caution” due to recent unspecified threats.
WCHS staff will check backpacks until further notice while the administrators and Washington Police investigate the “possible safety risk,” Superintendent Kyle Freeman said in an email to parents, guardians, and students.
The school is carrying out the safety measures even though Freeman said the timelines for the “initial threats” have passed.
Details about the threats have not been released.
Freeman is asking students to avoid bringing backpacks to school. Bags that are brought to school will be searched.
Students bringing bags for athletics are asked to leave them in their cars, or they can be stored in a safe place during the day, Freeman said.
Students have to report to the main entrance on Jefferson Street, with doors opening at 7 a.m. for “Zero Hour” classes and 7:45 a.m. for first hour classes.
Students taking an AP test at Five Points must enter through the south doors by the auditorium at 7:45 a.m. They cannot take their bags into the testing area, the superintendent said.
The following is Freeman’s email:
As I mentioned in the message sent to parents and students yesterday, information concerning a possible student safety risk at WCHS was brought to the attention of the administration over the past couple days. While the timelines connected to the initial threats have now passed, we will continue to monitor the situation closely. Out of an abundance of caution, we will resume our implementation of our current safety measures, including the bag check procedures outlined in previous messages, until further notice as we investigate these incidents in conjunction with the Washington Police Department.
We are asking students to try to avoid bringing a backpack to school. All bags that are brought to school will be searched. If your student needs to bring a bag for athletics, we ask that they leave the bag in their car and retrieve it after school for their practice or game. If they do not have the ability to store a bag in a car, we will search the bag and provide your student with a safe location to store their bag during the day.
Students should continue to report through the main entrance on Jefferson Street with doors opening at 7:00 AM for 0 Hour classes and 7:45 AM for 1st hour classes. Students who are taking an AP test at 5 Points should enter the south doors (by the auditorium) and will be allowed to enter at 7:45 AM. No bags will be admitted into the testing area.
