SPS: More than half of LC student body absent in wake of social media threats

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Schools said 982 Lewis and Clark High School students- about 57 percent- were absent from class Wednesday, the day after social media threats were targeted at the school.

1,723 students are enrolled at Lewis and Clark.

Not all students were absent because of the threats but SPS says the average absentee rate sits between 7-10 percent.

Spokane Police have identified and interviewed a student they believe to be responsible for the threats. That student has not been booked into custody or formally charged, but SPD says charges will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

Parents received two robocalls from the school district on Tuesday alerting them to the threats, but notifying them that police didn’t think them to be credible- though SPD says it investigates any threat thoroughly.

Still, some students and parents were concerned. KXLY spoke with the mother of a Lewis and Clark student who opted to keep her daughter home Wednesday after picker her up early the day before.

“You know what, it’s not worth it one or two days of school it’s just not worth it until they have some more information to give to us,” she said. She asked not to be named or shown on camera, for concerns about her daughter’s safety.

When she received the first robocall on Tuesday morning, she called her daughter to assess her comfort level with staying at school.

“She said that she was really scared and she wanted to come home and she’s not the type that just is scared,” the mother said.

This is a developing story.

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