Student brings firearm to Westside Elementary A Westside Elementary student brought a weapon to school last week, but students were never in danger, school officials said.“There was no threat,” said Superintendent Kevin Mitchell. “All the components of the weapon weren't there. All the kids were safe.”

According Mitchell, the weapon found in the possession of a fifth-grade student on Wednesday afternoon, was classed as a Type I weapon, the most serious classification under school policy. Mitchell would not comment on the specific type of weapon, however, a note sent to parents by Westside principal Brent Walker on Friday confirmed the weapon was a handgun and that the student brought no ammunition to school with him and made no threats.

When the weapon was discovered, the district's emergency plan was activated and according to Walker, went so smoothly that the other students and most of the staff did not realize there was a problem. At the time of the incident, the students were in the school gym for an assembly that was unrelated to the incident.

Walker's note told parents that he had visited each classroom on Thursday to let students know what had happened and that they had never been in any danger. Students were reminded that they should never bring any kind of weapons into the school.

School District No. 1 has a no-tolerance policy with regard to weapons, as do most schools, and the policy calls for expulsion if it is violated.

Expulsion can only be imposed by the school board, and is generally for one year. Mitchell said there is some “wiggle room” in the policy, though, and the superintendent has the authority when making his recommendation to the board to ask for a modified expulsion, which could mean a shorter term.

“We have not worked through that, yet,” Mitchell said.