Former Cashton Elementary employee faces charges of making terroristic threats
CASHTON, Wis. (WKBT) — A former Cashton Elementary School paraprofessional is under investigation and facing charges of making terroristic effects, according to a police report obtained by News 8 Now.
The paraprofessional dropped a “hit list” in the school hallway that included teachers and students, according to the report.
The employee no longer works for the district, but her legal battle is far from over.
We are not naming the employee at this time because the district attorney is reviewing the case and she has not been charged with a crime.
On May 3, a Cashton staff member found a piece of notebook paper in the school hallway.
Written at the top was “____ and ____ hit list,” followed by a list of teachers and other students.
Next to the list — what police described as threats: “Shoot em. Stab em. Blow em up.”
Before district officials called police, they reviewed the school’s surveillance video.
The video showed a speech paraprofessional placing the hit list on the floor, according to the incident report.
A police officer interviewed the employee in the video, who denied even seeing the list.
She told police her son had problems with one of the students at the top of the list, but she denied any involvement.
When asked why she was seen in video with the list, she said it could’ve “blown in” from somewhere.
She resigned later.
Investigators compared the handwriting on the note to the handwriting of the students listed at the top, but they did not match.
The parent of one of the students involved did not want to speak on camera, but she told us the paraprofessional does not like her fifth-grader. She believes the employee made the list to get him in trouble.
The police report did not list a motive, but investigators believe the employee also created the hit list.
Cashton Superintendent Ryan Alderson sent News 8 Now a statement.
It reads in part: “The school district is aware of the allegation made against a former employee and investigated promptly and appropriately. The school district immediately contacted law enforcement officials and conducted a thorough, collaborative investigation. As charges have not yet formally been determined, further comment is not available.
“The district maintains a nurturing and engaging learning environment and remains fully committed to the support of our students. We respond promptly to any situation that does not align to the high expectations we hold for personal and professional standards. ”
The district attorney’s office told News 8 Now that it plans to make a charging decision by the end of next week.
The Wisconsin Department of Instruction said the employee’s teachers license also is under investigation, but it is not suspended at this time.
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