Fears lower East Palestine High attendance
Classes were in session Friday with no disruptions, the principal said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST PALESTINE -- High school attendance Friday was significantly affected by parents' fears about the anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings and recent threats made by a freshman student, said Principal David Guy.
Higher-than-normal absenteeism was the only problem Friday, as students who came to school went through their normal class routines with no disruptions, he said.
Guy did not know how many students stayed home because of a perceived threat. He said schools Superintendent Jeff Richardson had the day's attendance figures. Richardson refused an interview with The Vindicator.
Police reported threat: Police reported March 7 that a student told a group of freshman girls he had a hate list, and told them, "When I bring the gun to school, you're in trouble." One of the girls told her father about the threats, and he reported the situation to the police.
Chief Gary Clark said his department considered the case closed weeks ago, but rumors blown out of proportion the past six weeks, coupled with the Columbine anniversary Friday, fueled parents' fears. Parents' calls to the media led to calls to the department from the county prosecutor and the FBI, Clark said.
Sgt. John Martin said the boy's case was handled informally, meaning no formal charges are filed. He said 80 to 90 percent of juvenile cases are handled that way, and usually involve counseling and community service. He did not know the specific agreement in this case.
Guy said school officials did not discipline the boy.
East Palestine Patrolman Brian Moore is assigned full time to the school district as a school resource officer. Martin said police increased exterior patrols around the school Friday.
"We have been working closely with the police department and are keeping teachers and staff informed," said Guy. "Attendance was down today, and we expected that because of all the talk. There are some concerns out there, some uneasiness, and we understand that."
Guy would not comment on whether the boy who made the threats was in school Friday, saying he could not release information about individual students.