School Principal Jeff Maples received a phone call late Monday night from a concerned mother whose son had informed her that another student might have a small gun in his book bag or locker, according to a letter sent home to parents Tuesday.
“After many late-night phone calls and planning,” Maples said in a letter to parents, “the school resource officers and I confiscated a gun from a student’s locker before other students were in the building Tuesday morning.”
The school resource officers seized the weapon and have filed appropriate charges against the student, Maples said. Disciplinary action will be administered in accordance with Moore County Schools’ Code of Student Conduct Policy, he said.
The student’s was not released because of his age.
“It was unfortunate that this situation happened,” Maples said. “However, we were able to re-solve the situation safely because of the involvement of caring students and parents.”
Maples thanked the mother who called him for “taking time to talk with her son about the situation and for taking the initiative to call.
“As busy as we all were,” he said in his letter, ”I urge parents to take time to talk with their children about what is going on in their lives and to share information with the school, no matter how trivial you think it might be.”
Maples said in the letter that the school believes it is critically important not to create a level of undue concern. But, at the same time, the school wants to assure parents, students and the entire community that West Pine has an emergency plan in place and that it is prepared for possible crises.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our number one priority,” he said. “Any decisions made at West Pine Middle School will be made in the best interests of our students.”
