Updated at 12:41 p.m.: Additional comment regarding attendance.
Nicole Steward said, via email:
"That number [earlier attendance estimates] will be amended at the end of the day to account for any field trips, sick students (flu has been going around), etc."
Regarding attendance, Steward says there is specific direction on what is and isn't allowed as an "excused absence" by the State.
"We are checking with the California Dept of Education on how to mark students for absences," she wrote, via email.
Original article:
Attendance was at about 90 percent at Foothill High School this morning despite a shooting threat made through graffiti two days ago. The graffiti was found, scrawled on the wall in one of the girls' bathrooms, at the high school on Tuesday.
According to Nicole Steward of the Pleasanton Unified School District, there are about 180 students marked out of school today, based on calls received overnight. There are 2,200 students enrolled at the school.
"About 70 are due to competitions for sports and cheer," said Steward. "There are usually about usually there are about 50 kids out per day on average. Attendance at the high school is at 90 percent today."
Of the 110 students who are out and not part of the sports competitions, Steward says it is not known whether or not the students who did not come today will be truant or marked "unexcused."
All classroom doors were locked once classes started today, but that is normal protocol for the high school, Steward said.
A number people have left comments saying attendance is down significantly on Thursday.
"Yeah these numbers are definitely wrong, there are about 110 students who are here today," Haley commented.
Another commenter, DKL, wrote, "I just drove through the school parking lot. The senior lot wasn't even full. When has that ever happened before? The junior lot was no more than half full. I'd say attendance was less than 90%.
Pleasanton Police were seen in the area of the school this morning around 8 a.m., along with two news vans parked in front of the school. The student parking lot appeared to have slightly fewer cars in it. School staff members were spotted floating on either ends of campus after drop off traffic had cleared out.
The district has responded to parent's fears with phone messages and emails sent out to families district-wide assuring them that all schools will be safe despite the threat.
Did you keep your student home from school this morning? Tell us in the comments section below.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
