Anne Arundel schools report mass absences

   Anne Arundel County public schools reported mass absences as the school week came to a close.

 

   The Capital of Annapolis reports that more than 38 percent of high school students were absent Friday, along with 29.6 percent of middle school students. Those percentages are significantly higher than the percentage of students who stayed out last year on the last day before winter break.

 

   Schools spokesman Bob Mosier says rumors of a school shooting planned for Friday, along with last week's elementary school shooting in Connecticut, likely contributed to the absences. Friday was also the last day before winter break. 

 

   Parents of students at four high schools and one middle school had been warned of rumors of a planned school shooting on Friday, but nothing unusual was reported.

 

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   Information from: The Capital of Annapolis, Md., http://capitalgazette.com