MADISON, Wis. — In the past two weeks, Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety’s 24/7 tip line, Speak Up Speak Out, has received 134 planned school attack tips. 

What You Need To Know

  • In the past two weeks, Wisconsin’s Office of School Safety’s 24/7 tip line, Speak Up Speak Out, has received 134 planned school attack tips

  • According to the Educator’s School Safety Network, 29.5% of school threats nationwide from 2022 to 2023 were false

  • Another way community members can play their part is by taking an online course that will allow people to spot warning signs

Trish Kilpin is the executive director for the Office of School Safety. 

“We received about 300 total planned school attack tips since we launched SUSO [Speak Up Speak Out] in September 2020,” Kilpin said. "And just since Sept. 10 [of this year], we've seen 135 planned school attack tips." 

Kilpin said this increase in threats is being called a “threat wave”. 

“Oftentimes, it's the very same social media post being used at one school and then re-used at another,” said Kilpin. “So we can analyze that and give that information to schools and local law enforcement."

She said this increase in threat reporting is not random. 

“We do see, nationwide, an increase in threat reporting right after a school shooting and some of that is that people pay more attention,” said Kilpin. “Sometimes people are looking back and thinking, 'I did not tell anyone about something that happened a while ago.'”

According to the Educator’s School Safety Network, 29.5% of school threats nationwide from 2022 to 2023 were false. 

Sedric Morris Sr. is the director of safety and security for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). He said MMSD has dealt with many real and fake threats throughout the years. 

“Social media threats, swatting calls to our buildings, threats overheard in hallways and classrooms,” Morris said. 

Morris said MMSD does everything it can to deter students from making false threats. 

“We work to educate, to make sure that students know these kinds of threats or federal crimes can carry extreme consequences, including jail time,” Morris said. 

Kilpin said the start of a new school year is an important time for teachers and students. She feels it is sad so much of that time has to be filled with fear. 

“We should be focused on making positive relationships with our students, establishing some behavioral routines and getting to know them,” Kilpin said. 

She is not happy that the Speak Up Speak Out tip line calls are up, but she is happy Wisconsinites are using the service. 

Kilpin said this is not a problem that law enforcement can solve on their own. She said another way community members can play their part is by taking an online course that will allow people to spot warning signs.

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