More than 280 Ephrata High School students were absent today, about three times the normal amount, in the wake of a threat found in a boys' rest room at the school last week.

"This skool will pay on the first Thursday in October," someone wrote.

The school is investigating the threat but felt confident that students would be safe today, the principal told parents in two e-mails sent this week.

A bomb-sniffing dog made a sweep of the school Wednesday night. Today, five police officers patrolled the hallways, and they planned to visit other district schools.

A police car was parked outside the front door, but otherwise things appeared normal just after school began today. During the first class period, two boys shot a video for a class near the school entrance.

"Today is business as usual," said spokeswoman Stephanie Gingrich. "We're trying to be as normal as possible today."

But some parents and students remained uneasy about the threat, found Friday written in pencil on the bottom of a toilet paper dispenser.

Rumors flew around the school and borough, as students interpreted the message as a bomb threat.

School principal Joane Eby sent a pair of e-mails to parents, to explain what had happened and what the school was doing to ensure the students' safety.

In the first one, sent Tuesday afternoon, Eby noted that, "No mention of a weapon or method was indicated in the note."

School officials are interviewing students and are trying to find out who wrote the message, Eby said.

Despite the precautions, some parents called the high school to say they would not be sending their children today. In all, 23 percent of the high school's students were absent.

"They weren't just no-shows," Gingrich said. "They were parents who called and thanked the school for the efforts we've made in addressing safety, but they just felt it was best for their student to be home."


Staff writer Cindy Stauffer can be reached at cstauffer@LNPnews.com or 481-6024.