Student in trouble for bringing airsoft gun to school

Frank Wagner Elementary School families received a letter from principal Vikki Berard last Tuesday letting them know a student had brought a toy gun into the building.

She wrote that the message was meant to provide open communication and ensure the safety of students.

“We took immediate action to confiscate the weapon and began disciplinary action,” she wrote. “No one on campus was injured and the weapon was not fired.”

The Monroe School District cannot comment on any questions directly related to the student, according to district spokesperson Tamara Krache. She cited the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, also known as FERPA.

Krache also said information being discussed in a Facebook group about the incident contained inaccurate information — she did not elaborate, and declined to clarify if the “toy gun” was an airsoft or pellet gun. The Monroe Police Department confirmed it was an airsoft gun.

“What I can say is that all district protocols were followed,” Krache says.

Consequences for bringing items to school that resemble weapons or firearms are addressed under the same guidelines as if they were real, Berard wrote. That can include, but is not limited to suspension or expulsion.

It is illegal in Washington for anyone to bring a weapon or firearm on to school property, on school-provided transportation or to events organized by a school. If a person between the ages of 12-21 violates the law, they will be taken to a juvenile or adult facility for up to three days. They must also be evaluated by a mental health professional.

“As parents, you can help,” Berard wrote. “Please take this opportunity to speak to your child about these rules and the importance of school safety. We want to encourage students to feel comfortable reporting any information they may have that compromises their safety and the safety of others.”