Threat on Facebook, allegedly written by a teacher, talks of "killing spree"



WILLIAMS BAY (WITI) -- A menacing comment on social media may have cost a Williams Bay elementary school teacher her job. The Facebook message was posted last week. Now, we've learned the teacher is out of the classroom through this week, when school is done for the year.

Students at Williams Bay Elementary School will end their school year on Friday. But for one of their teachers, the end of the school year has already come.

Superintendent Wayne Anderson confirms to FOX6 News an investigation is underway surrounding a Facebook comment allegedly made by a fifth-grade teacher.

The post read: "I'd like to go on a short, but effective killing spree. My children are insane."

There is an asterisk -- saying school and home.

"Once you put it out there, you can never put it back," Ellen O'Malley said.

O'Malley was a one-time substitute teacher for a different district and says this kind of comment -- especially because it allegedly came from a teacher, is unnerving.

"To actually be so immature to put it online -- like that is a grave mistake," O'Malley said.

Dan and Margie Sychowski say they can sympathize with a school teacher feeling frustrated, but say the comment -- even if it was made in jest, cannot be condoned.

"You don't know for sure, especially nowadays -- looking at the news all across the country, across the world about what's going on, you've got to take everything as serious," Dan Sychowski said.

Superintendent Anderson would not say whether the teacher in this case has resigned.

The district's teachers union president says the teacher in question was sent home for the rest of the week.

The teachers union president says the teacher in question has been with the school for 11 years.