High School Evacuated; 3 Students Arrested

By Tracy Dell’Angela, Chicago Tribune

Apr. 19–UPDATE: Three students have been arrested in connection with the school’s evacuation this afternoon, Principal Sharon Cross told staff members at a meeting this afternoon after students were sent home for the day, according to a staff member who attended the meeting. Police were seen this afternoon removing two students in handcuffs. Schaumburg were planning a news conference for this afternoon to discuss the incident.

Schaumburg High School was ordered evacuated this afternoon, apparently after rumors surfaced that someone planned to plant a bomb there Friday, a threat believed to be tied to both the 8th anniversary of the Columbine High shootings and the massacre at Virgina Tech earlier this week.

The evacuation took students by surprise because it came about two hours after officials announced over the school’s public address system that police and dogs would search the building after school for “suspicious materials” as a precaution.

Then, around 1:30 p.m., 7th period classes were interrupted with a call to leave the building.

“They made an announcement that it wasn’t safe to be in the school. Everyone started pushing toward the exit,” said Schaumburg senior Dan Murphy, 17. “There were just rumors everywhere. But I think something must have happened, some new information must have come in.”

The move left some students jittery as they waited to be dismissed for the day from the gathering spot in the school stadium.

“Obviously, I’m a little more scared of a bomb threat than (talk of) someone with a gun,” Murphy said. “The administration and the teachers obviously can’t take any chances now.”

Murphy said the rumors he heard didn’t target any particular students perceived to be outsiders or loners. “We’re a pretty close community,” he said.

Other students said there was no threat.

“Nobody’s gonna do anything,” said Michael Green, a junior. “People just talk their stuff; it’s waste of time and taxpayers money.”

The students were dismissed for the day at about 2:30 p.m.

Earlier today, High School District 211 Supt. Roger Thornton announced that school staff and police with dogs would do a top-to-bottom sweep of the northwest suburban school. The announcement, posted on a Schaumburg High School Web site, stated classes would be held as normal today.

After students are dismissed this afternoon, “the entire school will be searched for suspicious materials by our staff, and we are working with the police to use the canine unit for a later search prior to school on Friday,” the announcement said.

“All lockers, hallways, classrooms, and offices will be searched,” it said.

A normal school day was planned for Friday, according to the announcement, but an all-school assembly scheduled for that day had been canceled, and additional uniformed police would be on duty at the school, 1100 W. Schaumburg Rd.

Also, additional officers were to be present at District 211′s other high schools in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates and Palatine.

“We ask that students and staff be aware of your surroundings throughout the day and report any suspicious activity immediately,” Thornton said in the announcement.

District 211 is one of the state’s largest high school districts, with five schools and nearly 13,000 students.

Separately, administrators at South Elgin High School announced today they and police had determined rumors that someone would be bringing a gun to the school were untrue.

“After young people and their parents were interviewed (and) home visits and a search of My Space were made by the police, the conclusion is that all of the rumors are untrue — the students are innocent of any of the accusations in the rumors,” officials said on the high school’s Web site.

South Elgin High School, at 760 E. Main Street, is part of Elgin-based Unit School District 46, the largest K-12 public school system in the state outside Chicago, with 40,000 children in 40 elementary schools, 8 middle schools and 5 high schools.

Tribune staff reporter Mary Ann Fergus contributed.

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