Family awaits date to meet with Victor Elementary School District officials
VICTORVILLE — A 10-year-old Mojave Vista Elementary School student is facing expulsion after bringing to school a gun-shaped toy that delivers a small shock to the user when the trigger is pulled, according to his mother.
Amy Richardson said her son bought the small toy from a local ice cream truck that frequents the area near the school. After he told his friend about it, he wanted to let his friend borrow it and decided he would bring it to school on Feb. 20 to give it to him. According to Richardson, her son kept the toy in his backpack all day, only bringing it out to give to his friend, who then put it directly in his backpack.
"It's not something he can do to another student, the student would have to press the trigger themselves to get shocked," Richardson said. "He didn't bring it to have other students use it, he brought it to give to his friend, that was it. Was it the best idea? No, I had no idea he was even taking it with him. It's not something worth being expelled over."
Richardson said she received a call from a Mojave Vista administrator on Feb. 20 saying that her son had brought a toy gun to school.
"She said, 'Not only was it a gun, but it was a shock gun.' Like it was the scariest thing," Richardson said.
Richardson said her son's punishment could range from suspension to expulsion. She said Mojave Vista administration recommended him for expulsion, and Richardson and her son are waiting for a date to have the recommendation taken before the district.
"(The administrator) kept saying things like, 'But what if it was a real gun?' and 'What if he ended up hurting someone?' " Richardson said. "Since when do we punish based on 'ifs'?"
Victor Elementary School District Assistant Superintendent Tanya Benitez said Friday that she could not comment on the situation, citing that "a specific student's disciplinary matters are highly confidential."
"I can say that whenever there's a situation that involves the California Education Code, we stick to the code and are always trying to ensure safety for our kids," Benitez said.