School threatened after post from Libs of TikTok
Butler Middle School in Waukesha experienced a series of bomb and school shooting threats over a week after a social media post from a popular right-wing account, Libs of TikTok, that was critical of a principal’s 2022 social media post.
Parents have received numerous emails from the school’s principal, Laura Jennaro, Waukesha School District superintendent Jim Sebert and the Waukesha Police Department. The district and Waukesha police found all threats to be not credible.
Libs of TikTok has over 2.9 million followers on X and frequently posts to other platforms under the same name. Despite the name, Libs of TikTok often posts right-wing content critical of the left-wing and LGBTQ+ people and policies.
On March 4, the Libs of TikTok X account posted about Jeffrey Taege, an assistant principal at Butler Middle School. Included in the post is a screen shot of Facebook post from Taege from April 2022 in which he shared an image of a statement that said parents shouldn’t have the only say over what is taught in schools, but the “entire community” should. Taege said, “Saw this and had to share. Acceptance, equity, and inclusion should be cornerstones of our schools.”
Libs of TikTok posted to X, “Meet Jeffrey Taege. ... He thinks parents shouldn’t have a say in their kids’ education and the community and not the parent is responsible for children’s education.” The account then included an image of Taege with his husband.
Threats were deemed not credible
Four days later, on March 8, an email threat was made to the Waukesha County Health and Human Services that referenced Butler Middle School, according to an email Jennaro sent to parents. She said the threat was not credible and learning would continue as usual at the school. But additional threats followed.
Sebert sent an email to parents March 11 after another threat, telling parents the threats were originating from overseas. He added that all of the threats had been deemed not credible by Waukesha Police.
After another threat on March 12, Sebert emailed, “The threats that have and continue to occur to come in regarding Butler Middle School and our staff are abhorrent. There is no tolerance in our District or community for threats to the safety of our students, staff and schools. ... these threats will likely continue in the coming days.”
Additional security put in place
Jennaro told parents in an email that Butler Middle School was placed on a “secure hold” for 38 minutes the morning of March 12 as a result of the threats. Another threat came on March 14, and Jennaro said additional security measure were put in place. Additional bomb sweeps were conducted, and police would continue to provide an increased presence.
On March 15, Sebert and Waukesha Police Lt. Chad Pergande released a video to parents and staff.
Pergande said of the four threats, three were bomb threats and one was a school shooting threat. All originated overseas. Three of the four originated in Nigeria, while the other was tied to Russia, he said. “We are not alone in this,” Pergande said. “If you go online, you will find regarding school districts across the country having similar threats.”
Last month, the FBI and law enforcement were critical of Libs of TikTok after bomb threats across the U.S. that followed a social media post.
Inaccurate information on social media
Pergande said there appears to be a correlation between a social media post of a staff member at Butler Middle School and the targeting of the school, but did not name Libs of TikTok.
However, after the video release, on March 17, Sebert said in an email that the district was made aware of social media postings that originated from Waukesha students discussing a school shooting at Butler Middle School on March 18. Like the previous threats, the posts were deemed not credible, he wrote. He said the district had “no tolerance” for spreading rumors related to violence in schools.
“We recognize that some families may have concerns about their child attending school right now,” he added. “It is always your right as a parent to determine what is best for your child.”
A group of Waukesha parents and residents posted to Facebook under the name Unwavering Waukesha. “There is an obvious gap in transparency concerning the reasoning behind these threats,” the statement reads. “In addition, the community should be aware of a likely correlation between school board policy/board members’ rhetoric and these threats.”
The statement continued, saying, “The Butler staff person being attacked by these social media posts and threatened is a phenomenal, award-winning educator.”
The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators named Taege as its 2023 Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year.
“Unfortunately, the attacks on and threats towards this educator seem to be the end product of the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and harmful policies enacted by numerous school board members in Waukesha,” said the post from Unwavering Waukesha.
District has seen criticism, praise
The Waukesha School District and its school board have been the target of both criticism and praise in recent years after a series of policy changes that some viewed as harmful, and in some cases, discriminatory to LGBTQ+ students and staff.
Sebert sent a letter to teachers in 2021 banning “controversial” and “political” signage from schools. Soon, Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, Thin Blue Line, Pride flags and other posters and materials were removed from classrooms. Four months later, a special education kindergarten teacher was suspended for refusing to take down a Pride flag.
The district enacted a “parental bill of rights” last year. The resolution prohibits staff from referring to students by any name or pronoun other than the one consistent with the sex assigned the student at birth without written permission from their parents. The resolution also says students must use the bathroom and locker room facilities and participate in the sports team consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth.
“Parental rights” has been a rallying cry for many legislative bodies across the country. In Waukesha, most members of the school board were supported by the Republican Party of Waukesha County.
Sebert and School Board President Kelly Piacsek deny any allegiance to the Republican Party as the board is technically nonpartisan. Akin to Republican efforts in the Wisconsin Legislature, the Waukesha School Board voted to fire the staff member handling diversity, equity and inclusion in the district.
As seen elsewhere nationwide, Waukesha school board meetings have consisted of fiery speeches from parents who both support and oppose the board’s vision. There is an election for three seats on April 2.
Waukesha is also the district that fired teacher Melissa Tempel after she criticized the administration on social media for its decision to prohibit the use of the Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton song “Rainbowland” at a concert. The controversy gained national attention. Tempel has since filed a federal lawsuit arguing her First Amendment rights were violated.
Jill Underly issues a statement
State Superintendent Jill Underly issued a statement Tuesday in response to the recent threats at Butler.
“Let me be clear: Attacks, harassment, and threats on students, educators, and schools are reprehensible and cannot continue,” Underly said. “And let’s not pretend these threats are coming out of thin air. They are generated by hate, especially toward the LGBTQ+ community.
“We must stand up for, and stand with, every educator and every child. We can’t leave anyone behind. These threats are based on nothing more than targeted hate. And now out-of-state hate groups are using social media to target all of us.”
Underly said “hard data” shows that anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric hurts children. “Our trans and LGBTQ+ youth have told us they experience growing feelings of depression and anxiety,” she said. “Our LGBTQ+ staff are being targeted. We must stop dividing ourselves and stripping our students of their identity. We must instead help educators supporting kids – and their colleagues – when we need it most.
“We must stand with our friends, family, and colleagues and be united in the belief that hate has no home in Wisconsin, and especially in our schools. …
“Under my leadership, the Department of Public Instruction will continue working to create a better, inclusive educational experience for every young person and every educator, including our students and colleagues in the LGBTQ+ community.”