Send the message that threats to our schools won’t be tolerated

It is happening too frequently these days. For the third time in recent weeks, area police have been forced to investigate threats sent to our schools. The latest incident happened in Holmen, where police say they have identified the person responsible for making threats toward that district’s middle school and its students. Earlier, another threat targeted La Crosse’s Logan High school, threatening to shoot students and teachers. Before that, a threat toward Central High School forced the district to keep students and teachers home for a day after a threat there. Fortunately, none of the threats turned out to be real, but still, these threats are not harmless pranks. They disrupt student learning and instill fear. Those found to be responsible can face serious charges, including a felony count of making terroristic threats.  Police typically don’t identify those involved as they tend to be juveniles and that can make it difficult to follow the case throughout its legal process. Our courts should send a message to anyone found guilty of making these threats and make clear that such behavior will not be tolerated. Our students have spent enough time out of the classroom and making sure they are able to learn has been enough of a challenge. We don’t need that to be more difficult because someone is upset or finds humor in sending these threatening messages.