COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — Three north Idaho school districts have canceled Friday classes for about 20,000 students due to persistent rumors of school shooting plots. The Coeur d'Alene School District was the first to make that announcement Thursday.

The Spokane, Wash., Spokesman-Review reports that the Post Falls School District and the Lakeland district in Rathdrum soon followed. School officials say police have not verified any real threats of violence but the rumors have affected many students and parents. Attendance reportedly has dropped all week.

All three districts say the lost day will be made up. Coeur d'Alene district Superintendent Hazel Bauman says, in her words, "the fear and the panic is just so palpable that we didn't believe we could have a productive, calm day."

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