Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 6, 1995 TAG: 9510060075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SHAWSVILLE LENGTH: Short
Montgomery County School Superintendent Herman Bartlett would not say what type of weapon was involved.
Kay Huff, a grandmother of one of the students, said the weapon was a BB gun that looks similar to a real pistol. She said another boy had the BB gun in his backpack and pulled it out on the bus.
She said her grandson was suspended even though he didn't bring the gun on board and only touched it to push it back into the bag.
"He's very upset, and he's scared," she said.
The three students were suspended Tuesday - one week after her grandson reported the incident to Principal Denise Broyles, Huff said.
Bartlett said Montgomery County's code of conduct requires principals to suspend for 10 days any child who has a weapon on school property.
After that, the students, their parents, the principal and Bartlett meet to discuss the incident.
After those meetings, Bartlett can recommend expulsion to the Montgomery County School Board. The weapons policy requires a minimum 365-day expulsion.
Bartlett would not discuss the specifics of the case, but did say he will conduct a preliminary investigation in the next few days.
Last year, the School Board suspended two high school students for bringing weapons to school on separate occasions.
Wednesday, a sixth-grade pupil at Dublin Middle School who reportedly brought a firearm to school also was suspended and faces the same yearlong expulsion.
by CNB