School attendance dropped at Seawell Elementary School, Smith Middle School and Chapel Hill High School April 10 after the district received a secondhand shooting threat.

The schools heightened campus security and protocol on April 10 after four girls under the age of ten disclosed on April 9 that a man told them he planned to shoot up a school the following day.

Chapel Hill principal Sulura Jackson sent an email and phone call to inform parents and students about the threat. Some students were advised by their parents and peers to stay safe at home, while others still attended school.

Chapel Hill senior Nadiya Farrington decided to go to school on April 10. “After hearing about the threat I was concerned about my safety by going to school on [April 10], especially after recent school shooting events. I decided to go because I didn’t want fear to control my life and get in the way of my education,” Farrington said.

Other students decided against attending school due to safety concerns, including senior Anna Compton. “With all of the recent shootings happening, it made more sense to stay home just in case,” Compton said.  

Classes lacked attendance on the day of the threat, and even more students left throughout the day.

According to the Herald Sun, at lunchtime, Chapel Hill’s attendance was at 50.7%, which is significantly less than the average of 94.7%.

Chapel Hill had the lowest attendance out of the schools under the threat. Seawell Elementary School had a reported attendance of 62.3%, down from its normal average of 96.7%. Smith Middle School recorded 72.5% attendance from its normal attendance of 96.7%.

“[On the day of the threat], my attendance was significantly less than a normal day,” math teacher Michael Pulver said.

Police remained on campus for the rest of the week to ensure that no suspicious activity went unnoticed.