UPDATE: Threats to Onalaska school “resolved,” school back on Wednesday

ONALASKA (WKBT) — Students and staff can safely go back to class at Onalaska Middle School Wednesday after the threats against the school were “resolved.”

Onalaska Superintendent Todd Antony sent out an update at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday sharing some information on the threats, which were made by two Onalaska Middle School students over Snapchat on Monday night.

Antony says the school district followed its joint threat assessment protocol with the Onalaska Police Department to investigate the threats and they were determined to have been resolved.

“Threats against schools are treated very seriously and students who are determined to have made such threats face consequences through our school’s Code of Conduct, as well as potential legal consequences,” Antony said.

Antony thanked the students and families who reported the incident.

“Please know that the safety of our students and staff is our primary concern and any threats of violence, even if deemed not credible, are taken very seriously. There will be additional counseling support for students who need to process their feelings,” he said.

There will be a police presence at the middle school Wednesday “as a precautionary measure,” Antony said.

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ONALASKA (WKBT) — Classes are canceled at Onalaska Middle School Tuesday as police investigate what the district calls a “serious threat,” in a letter sent to parents around 11:30 p.m.

The district decided to call off school at Onalaska Middle for the day “out of an abundance of caution” because of the timing of the threat, and to give Onalaska police and school administrators more time to investigate.

Students and staff should not report to Onalaska Middle School today. All other schools in the district will go on as normal.

The letter in full:

December 6, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This evening, the School District of Onalaska and the Onalaska Police Department were made aware of a serious threat directed toward Onalaska Middle School. District administration and the Onalaska Police Department are currently investigating the validity of the threat.

Due to the timing of this event and our district’s priority of student and staff safety, Onalaska Middle School is canceling classes and all after school activities for Tuesday, December 7, 2021, to give the Onalaska Police Department and school administration more time to thoroughly investigate this issue.

Students and staff should not report to Onalaska Middle School tomorrow. All other district schools will operate as normal. Once we have more detailed information we will share it with our district families and staff.

Thank you-

Kristen Fay

Executive Assistant
School District of Onalaska
faykr@onalaskaschools.com

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