WASHINGTON, Ill. – Officials say there was a noticeable drop in attendance at Washington High School on Wednesday after the school superintendent asked students to leave their backpacks at home.
The school emailed families regarding a risk in one of their bathroom stalls on Tuesday. School administrators requested students not bring backpacks to school so they could enter without needing to be checked.
According to 25 News, the school also asked student-athletes to keep their sports bags in a car and retrieve them after school. If not, the school would provide a safe location for their after-school activities.
The potential safety risk at Washington High School is still under investigation. The superintendent says extra police security will remain in place through the end of the week.
“That was the purpose in the email, I think that got a little misconstrued that we were saying no backpacks but just trying to keep things as simple and streamlined as possible,” said Dr. Kyle W. Freeman, Superintendent of Washington Schools District 308.
Freeman didn’t divulge how many students were absent on Wednesday, but said it was a noticeable amount. He hopes to see things go back to normal by Monday.
The school sent a follow-up letter addressing the situation on Wednesday.
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