Wauwatosa West officials, police respond to 'suspicious phone call'

Students at Wauwatosa West High School have safely returned to their scheduled classes after a suspicious phone call was made to the school.

There is no indication that the suspicious phone call was a credible threat and school will remain open on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The Wauwatosa School District takes a very serious approach to any threats made to our school community and will take direct actions immediately," read a letter Principal Frank Calarco emailed to parents Wednesday morning.

In keeping with the Wauwatosa School District's crisis communication plan, district administrators contacted law enforcement and began investigations immediately, according to the letter.

Lt. Brian Zalewski of the Wauwatosa Police Department said Wauwatosa West received a "non-specific" phone call around 7:36 a.m. Wednesday. The caller made reference to blowing up the school, he said. 

Students were relocated to the school's gymnasium and the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department conducted a search of the building, using canines. Nothing specific was found and classes resumed as normal around 10:15 a.m.

"Our students are safe and back in class," Calarco said in an email to parents. "They did an amazing job. They were calm and very helpful. They really made me proud to be their principal."

The district plans to take additional security measures in response to this situation.

The school is offering a reward of up to $1,000 and an iPad for information that leads to the person who made the threat. If a similar incident happens again, the school may be required to add an extra day to the end of the school year, Calarco said in the email.

"Please help us by talking to your child about the serious consequences and long-term effects this type of behavior would have on his/her life," the email said. "Reinforce the need to have your child report health and safety concerns to appropriate staff or to you so that all our schools can remain safe, open and student-centered educational facilities."

Zalewski said the police department will continue an investigation on the incident. 

"We take these things very seriously," he said. 

Since 2012, there have been at least 30 threats made to schools in the suburban Milwaukee area.