After 67 percent absentee rate Wednesday, GHS back to normal in wake of text threats

Hundreds of parents and guardians waited outside Gaffney High School on Tuesday to check out students after text messages warned of a shooting. Gaffney High School was almost back to normal Thursday morning after a text message scare disrupted classes for two days this week.

A threat of violence circulated by text messages led 1,120 students to be signed out by parents Tuesday. Despite a heightened police presence and metal detectors, the school reported a 67 percent absentee rate Wednesday among the 2,200-member student body.

Since the students were not in class, they were counted absent based on the state's mandatory school attendance law.

"However, the absences will be counted as lawful absences and students will be permitted to make up the missed work," Cherokee County School District Superintendent Dr. Bill James said. "Students earning Carnegie units may make up any absences during the year at makeup sessions."

Attendance makeup days will be Oct. 13, 2008; Jan. 20, 2009; Feb. 13, 2009 and March 23, 2009.

The hours are 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Students will earn six hours of classroom credit for each day attended. The time earned by students will be distributed to classes missed because of their absences.

An estimated 100 Gaffney High students were absent from school Thursday. This is closer to the school's average number of absences, which typically ranges between 50 to 70 students per day.

Gaffney police continued to investigate the source of the text message, school resource officer Jason Waters said.

"We have traced the text message back to Monday evening at 9 p.m.," Waters said. "We will need some tips to solve this."

The person or persons found responsible for the threats could be charged with communicating a terrorist threat under the Homeland Security Act. It is illegal to use electronic communications, such as text messages, to communicate a threat of violence.

Extra police officers remained at Gaffney High on Thursday.

"Things are closer to normal. The text message situation was not unique to Gaffney High. Boiling Springs High School and Lexington have had to deal with a text message issue," James said. "Parents of students at Gaffney High School were notified of the alleged threat through the Alert Now system and advised of the security measures in place to secure the safety and well-being of all students and staff."

School trustees would have to decide whether the district will revisit its current cell phone policy, James said.

County students can bring their cell phones to school but must keep them turned off during school hours. Cell phones are primarily intended for student use in emergency situations and to provide a way to contact parents for transportation from extracurricular activities.

"The cell phone is purely a convenience. It can't be a disruption in school," James said. "The rationale for allowing kids to bring them to school is so they can contact their parents after school if necessary."