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Police investigate second bomb threat at Kiel Middle School, connected to pronoun investigation

Police said threat connected to Title IX investigation
Kiel Title IX Investigation
Posted at 11:47 AM, May 24, 2022
and last updated 2022-05-24 18:57:35-04

KIEL (NBC 26) — A second bomb threat that Kiel Middle School received earlier Tuesday morning is under investigation, Kiel Police said. This follows previous threats the Kiel school district received Monday, which prompted schools to be evacuated.

Police said school had already been canceled for the entire district on Tuesday, so Kiel Middle School was vacant and locked at the time of the threat. Still, police searched the building and found no devices. The building was cleared.

Police said this latest threat referenced the ongoing Title IX investigation against three Kiel Middle School students. As previously reported, the families of three eighth-grade boys claim the students are being investigated for sexual harassment for using the incorrect pronouns to refer to a student who uses they/them pronouns.

News of the investigation has received widespread attention. Fox News interviewed the mother of one of the boys. Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate and former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch tweeted an opinion from the Wall Street Journal about the subject Tuesday morning.

Police are working with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to investigate the source of the bomb threats.

The Kiel School District Administrator Brad Ebert said in a letter to families that schools will be closed Wednesday to allow school staff to prepare for virtual learning, which will begin on Thursday and continue on Friday.

School officials will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as to whether they will continue virtually or bring students back to school buildings next week.

On Wednesday, the school board is expected to have a meeting at 4 p.m. virtually only. To access that on Wednesdayclick here.