Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505150073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN AND PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
A teacher at Northwood Elementary found an unloaded BB gun in a second-grader's book bag last week. The boy immediately was suspended and is awaiting the School Board's decision on his fate.
Last month, in the first gun-related incident in more than a decade, a bus driver discovered an unloaded pistol in a 9-year-old's book bag after the boy left it behind. That boy, a fourth-grader at Draper Elementary School, was suspended for the remainder of the year and will be allowed to return to school in August. He will receive home schooling during his suspension.
Even though some consider a BB gun a toy, it is classified as a weapon and a threat to school safety under the school system's policy.
In fact, under state law, both offenses are felonies. A bill passed by the General Assembly this year calls for any student found with a gun on school grounds to be expelled for no less than 180 days. But since that bill won't take effect until July, it is still up to the School Board to make the final decision.
"This is a child who has not made many mistakes, if any," said Superintendent Bill Asbury of the second-grader. But, he added, the school system's policy of no weapons in schools is a serious one, and a breach cannot be ignored.
School Board member Lewis Pratt said people don't associate guns in schools with a place like Pulaski County. "This particular case has demonstrated that it could happen anywhere. Good family, good child," he said.
It is not unheard of for young children to bring weapons to school. Statewide, four second-graders and two fourth-graders brought guns to school in 1992-93. Even a kindergartner brought a gun to school that year, the latest for which statistics are available.
The Virginia Department of Education is releasing its updated report on crime and violence in schools Tuesday, which will include statistics for 1993-94.
The county sheriff's office is working with school administrators to provide an officer who will visit classrooms and educate pupils on the dangers of weapons in school.
Parent involvement and education are also planned, so parents can understand the conduct expected of students.
"The public needs to be aware that the presence of weapons in schools is a serious violation," said a statement from the administrative staff. "The county's weapons policy prohibits the possession of not only firearms but also look-alike toy guns, throwing stars, knives, chains and any articles intended to inflict bodily harm or intimidate other persons."
by CNB