Renewed violence in the Mexican border town of Palomas has affected attendance at Columbus Elementary School, just north of the border, the Deming Headlight reported.

Attendance is down about 15 to 30 pupils a day following the deadly shootings in Palomas that killed seven people on Friday and Sunday, Columbus Principal Hector Madrid told the Headlight.

About 300 of the school's 484 students live in Palomas, and normal attendance is about 96 percent, Madrid told the paper.

"Considering everything that's going on across the border, our kids have done extremely well," said Madrid. "I commend our teachers for the stability they've been able to keep at school, being that some of the kids have been exposed to trauma."

Madrid said the school has been providing counseling and extra attention to its students, the Headlight said.

Attendance figures for Palomas students who attend schools in Deming weren't immediately available, the paper reported. 

Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza told the Headlight that he'd met with his village police officers and has been in touch with Palomas Mayor Estanislao Garcia.

"He pretty much assures me they are going to try to keep control with the soldiers they have there," Espinoza said of his conversations with Garcia.

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