Valley schools appear calm on Columbine anniversary

Terry Webster and Keith Paul

Friday, April 20, 2001 | 11:14 a.m.

Attendance appeared to be significantly reduced at many area high schools today in response to rumors over the past several weeks of violence that would commemorate the second anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado that left 15 people dead.

At Green Valley High School, for example, the quad area contained only about one-third the number of students as usual and Henderson and school district police cars were patrolling. At Greenspun Junior High School, the line of parents waiting to drop off their children was also only about one-third the normal amount as officers in patrol cars kept a vigilant eye out for any signs of trouble.

School officials confirmed that attendance today appeared to be down, but said figures will not be available until Monday.

"It's varying from school to school," Mary Stanley-Larsen, district spokeswoman, said. School principals were not available for comment, as they were out walking their campuses.

"There are a lot of rumors out there and they are feeding off of themselves," Stanley-Larsen said. "So far, we have not seen any basis for them. A lot of it is students saying someone is going to do something, or that they heard something is going to happen."

By 10:30 this morning, school police had reported no problems or incidents.

Rumors and threats have led to some arrests in the past few weeks and prompted Henderson Police to position SWAT officers near two schools with persistent rumors of threats.

"There were no problems yesterday or so far today," Henderson Police Chief Michael Mayberry said this morning. "So far nothing has happened to indicate that we did anything other than over-prepare, but I would rather over-prepare than under-prepare."

School Police Chief Elliott Phelps said his officers are investigating every threat report. School and Metro Police found an AK-47 assault rifle in the back of a car Thursday at Cimarron High School. The driver was a former student stopped for a traffic violation on campus, Phelps said.

There was no indication of any threat by the driver or any indication the driver was planning to go into the school with the gun, Phelps said.

For students, disciplinary action can range from anything to a required parent conference to an arrest for making a threat.

"We are really enforcing zero tolerance," Stanley-Larsen said. "We're keeping an eye on everything. Even if kids are just joking around, they will be disciplined for it."

Because of the tense climate being created by the rumors, the school district is recognizing that some parents did not want their children in school today.

"We are respecting their (parents) wishes," Stanley-Larsen said. "If students haven't already provided a written note, they need to follow up with that on Monday."