WICHITA, Kansas -- A Robinson Middle School student was not in class on Wednesday after district officials suspended a boy who brought a toy gun to school.
Officials say the toy looked realistic, and falls under the school's zero-tolerance policy.
The district says no weapons, whether real or toy, can be brought on school grounds. Punishment is carried through regardless of accidental mistakes, ignorance, or extenuating circumstances.
The rule is to help prevent drug abuse and violence in schools.
"If it puts people in fear and if it makes students and staff feel unsafe, then obviously we want to make sure they know. This has been a district policy for years," said Susan Arensman, with Wichita Public Schools.
The boy is suspended, pending an expulsion hearing. He could be expelled for 186 days.
Some parents we talked to say they're concerned about the child.
"He probably just wasn't thinking put the gun in his backpack wanted to play cops and robbers after school didn't give it a second thought," said Kevin Medlin, Robinson Parent. "They're making the kid truant now, what are his parents gonna do with him?"
School officials say the student will be given a hearing to determine how long the punishment will be. The hearing should take place in the next few days, or could take up to a week, according to officials.
