SCHOOL POLICY Two teen girls accused of having weapons

Both girls will be charged in family court next week.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- In separate occurrences in the past two weeks, teenage girls brought a potential weapon into the city schools, officials said.
Records show police were called to Reed Middle School on Wednesday after the principal and assistant principal learned a 13-year-old eighth-grader had a knife with her on school property.
Sgt. James Taafe said Thursday the girl will be charged Monday in Trumbull County Family Court with illegal conveyance of a deadly weapon on school property.
Taafe said the potential weapon was a folding knife with a 3-inch blade.
A second teenager -- a 17-year-old high school girl -- will face the same charge in the same court Monday. In that case, police found a loaded .25-caliber semiautomatic pistol Sept. 28 in a car the girl drove to school and parked in the school lot.
That student is still under suspension.
What's next
Superintendent Richard Buchenic said the eighth-grade pupil was also suspended, and school officials will conduct an investigation to determine whether to continue the suspension or expel her.
Police and school officials were unclear about whether the girl had brandished the knife.
Reports said administrators at the school called the girl into the office, took the knife and then called police.
Taafe said the girl told police she accidentally brought the knife to school.
Buchenic said he still did not have all the details from the latest episode but added "our principal and administration handled everything properly."
Buchenic said school officials have a zero-tolerance policy for potential weapons, and administrators will investigate both situations closely.
slshaulis@vindy.com