Students face expulsion after gun accusations
Published on March 7th, 2007
STONEHAM, MA - Two Stoneham Middle School students face possible expulsion after they allegedly carried pellet guns into the educational facility last week.
According to Middle School Principal Christine McMenimen, an investigation conducted by school officials last Thursday concluded that two students brought the pellet guns into the middle school the day prior.
Administrators were made aware of the situation at the onset of the school day last Thursday, when at least two pupils approached a counselor upon hearing a rumor that kids were carrying the weapons.
"Two students came forward on Thursday and spoke with a counselor. They had heard a rumor that they had seen a student with a gun in the building," McMenimen explained. "We searched lockers and discretely escorted students to the office to interview them."
Stoneham Police, who have been notified of the incident, are now in possession of the two pellet guns. According to McMenimen, although the two items may be legally owned, it is a violation of both state law and school policy to carry such guns into a educational facility.
"At no time were the weapons discharged at the school and there likely won't be any charges coming from the police - the schools will be handling the disciplinary action on their end," said a Stoneham Police source. "Neither of the pellet guns were found on the students at the school, and they were instead turned over by the parents of the two students.
"Our involvement in the matter told us that this more about these kids 'showing off' of the pellet guns than any thought of using them," added the source. "Obviously that time of action is still something that both the police department and the school system don't take lightly."
While the Middle School Principal stressed that pupils found in violation of those standards could face expulsion, she declined to detail what particular disciplinary action has been taken against the two alleged culprits in this situation, due to confidentiality rules.
"For the two students who were in possession of these pellet guns, the administration regards the items as weapons under state law," McMenimen said. "Any student who is found in possession of a weapon at Stoneham Middle School should expect to receive swift and severe punitive action."
During the course of the district's investigation into the matter, officials learned that the two pellet guns were not in the school on Thursday, but had instead been carried into the building the day prior.
According to the Middle School Principal, administrators were almost immediately aware that the weapons in question were pellet or b.b. pistols, and not real guns.
A number of students interviewed recalled seeing the pistols during the course of the day. One pupil recalled seeing one of the pellet guns stuffed into a backpack in a locker earlier in the day.
In the late afternoon, a number of other middle schoolers saw the two weapons, one in a knapsack and the other reportedly in a student's waistband, while they were in a bathroom.
"At no time, based upon our investigation, were the guns used to threaten another student. It appears that they were strictly brought for show," said McMenimen, who furthered that the investigation also concluded that neither pistol was discharged at anytime within the building.
Due to the seriousness of the situation, and with the knowledge that such incidents often lead to the spread of rumors and misinformation, school officials contacted all middle school parents via the district's connect-ed or reverse 911 system.
A text of that message, obtained by The Stoneham Independent, explains the full details of the incident and encourages parents to speak to their children about telling adults earlier about such issues.
I cannot stress enough that all parents encourage their children to inform a trusted adult if and when they become aware of suspicious situations, rumors, or evidence of contraband in the school building," the connect-ed message said.
"We are a close school community and we want our students safe at all times. With the many tragic events that go on in schools across the country, we cannot expect that Stoneham would be exempt or protected from school violence," McMenimen added.
Today, the Middle School will hold a series of assemblies to address the incident and issues of school safety.
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