School Attendance Down Due to Letter Threat

An anonymous letter was sent to police on Tuesday, threatening to hurt elementary school children.

The threat has caused overall class attendance to dwindle.

School attendance dropped in Johnston, Warwick and Cranston despite efforts to provide a police presence in each school, NECN reported.

According to the Providence Journal, Johnston Superintendent Bernard DiLullo Jr. reported an absenteeism rate of 43 percent, with students in high school and middle school also staying out. Richard D’Agostino at Warwick said about one-third of students stayed home Wednesday, and Cranston school chief Judy Lundsten said about 39 percent of students were absent.

Police officers are posted at all Cranston public and private schools for the remainder of the week because of the threat.