LYNNWOOD — An Alderwood Middle School student has been expelled after he brought a gun to school last week.
The boy showed it to friends on the bus ride to the Lynnwood-area school Thursday morning, said DJ Jakala, an Edmonds School District spokeswoman.
“We didn’t get a call until Friday morning from a parent,” Jakala said.
The district immediately contacted the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The student admitted to deputies he brought it to school, Jakala said.
Friday was a nonschool day for Alderwood, a school for seventh- and eighth-graders. A letter was sent to parents on Monday.
In the letter, Alderwood Principal Gary Axtell wrote: “Through the school’s and the sheriff’s deputies investigation, we learned the student did not intend to use the weapon and was bringing it to show fellow students.
“This is an extremely serious matter regardless of the intent and the appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken,” Axtell wrote.
The boy received an emergency expulsion, which means he can’t return to school until an investigation is completed and a level of discipline is determined, Jakala said.
School officials urged parents to discuss with their children that no weapons of any type can be brought on school grounds or any district property, including buses.
“While we are pleased a student told a trusting adult what they had witnessed, it is imperative that our students know they can always come to a trusting adult at the school to report something like this immediately,” Axtell wrote.
The Edmonds School District sponsors a Safe Schools Tipline and any adult or student can leave an anonymous message at any time by calling 425-431-7010.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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