Stevenson High School Adds Police After Vague Threat On Facebook
By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Administrators at Stevenson High School added additional police on campus Monday following a vague threat that was posted on Facebook.
Police and school administrators in Lincolnshire stressed there was no "imminent danger to Stevenson or its students." But some parents criticized the way the situation was handled by officials.
CBS 2 obtained the rambling Facebook post, which is highly critical of the general behavior of the senior class.
"For the past four years, I have watched you break the law and brag about it to your little 'friends,' and blame each other for all of your problems and never take responsibility for your actions," the post, which was published on Sunday, said.
The message blames the students for not caring if somebody gets bullied or beaten for being gay, becomes addicted to drugs, causes a deadly DUI accident or rapes a fellow student.
"I want my fellow seniors to know that, like it or not, you will influence the future of America, and maybe even the rest of the world, based on your actions."
The message ends with sentence that could be considered a threat: "Don't worry, I will give you something to remember before this year is over."
The post has since been removed.
Some parents, including Michelle Siegal, said they're upset the way school officials handled the potential threat – namely, by not mentioning it until Monday.
She kept her daughter, a senior, and her freshman son home Monday.
Amy Anders, another parent, sent her son to school but echoes Siegal's concerns.
"You had parents all over Facebook last night, just panicking," Anders says.
Stevenson's information officer says school officials only posted a notice on its website Monday morning following news reports. Jim Conrey says officials did not want to overreact.
Police say they have talked with the student who posted the message and they are satisfied the teen meant no threat.
