Bomb threat in South Elgin 'not credible,' authorities say

Authorities conducted two sweeps of Kenyon Woods Middle School after a bomb threat was scribbled in a student bathroom and found nothing, police said.

The threat was found by a student who reported it to school staff members Wednesday afternoon, South Elgin Police Sgt. Mike Doty. The threat indicated the bomb would go off "at a specific time" Friday, he said.

"We did a full investigation like we do with any threat. We did get some assistance from South Elgin police and it was found to be not credible. We just let parents know," Elgin Area School District U-46 spokeswoman Mary Fergus said.

A first sweep of the school building was conducted Thursday night, when U-46 alerted parents of the threat, Doty said. The second sweep was conducted at 10 a.m. Friday. Students and staff members were notified of "A hold in place," meaning they were required to stay in their classrooms as police canine units conducted another sweep that lasted no more than 20 minutes, Doty said. School policy requires students to keep backpacks in their lockers, he added.

South Elgin police received assistance from the Kane County sheriff's officers and a canine unit from Bloomingdale, Doty said. The investigation regarding who is responsible for the threat is ongoing, he said.

It's important for parents to remind their children to report any threats and not spread rumors, Doty said. "Tell them to always tell the school district or a police officer, or a parent as well, what they are hearing."

• Daily Herald staff writer Madhu Krishnamurthy contributed to this story.