Pair of bomb threats disrupt New Berlin high school

New Berlin - Police this week were still investigating a bomb threat that caused a lockdown at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School, 4333 S. Sunny Slope Road, last week.

On Sept. 27, the school received its second bomb threat in three days. The first one was discovered Sept. 25. Both involved scrawled messages on a boys room stall.

New Berlin police are working with school officials to determine whether both threats are the work of the same student or students, said New Berlin Police Chief Joe Rieder, whose department conducted a building sweep in both incidents.

In the first incident, which came at the end of the school day, the investigation began after students were dismissed, and parents were notified that evening.

Though the second threat was discovered while school was in session, the school was not evacuated because the threat was not considered credible, Rieder said. As a precaution, the school went into a lockdown while a building sweep was conducted.

In the second case, police used a dog to sniff out any potential bomb beginning at 1:15 p.m., while the school was in lockdown mode, Rieder said. Normal school activities resumed at 2:15 p.m.

However, a homecoming assembly that was to be held Sept. 27 was postponed to Monday. No other events tied to Homecoming, culminating in the game this Friday, were impacted, said Courtney Fryatt, activities and athletic director.

There was increased police presence at school Friday, following the Sept. 27 threat. The school's staff is continuing to monitor all areas of the school building, Principal Michael Fessenmaier said.

School officials are encouraging parents to talk with their children about the threats.

According to a news release, the school district is encouraging anyone with information to come forward confidentially to a teacher or administrator or to the New Berlin Police Department.