Student suspended for making threats

A Washington Middle School student was suspended for making verbal threats March 23, school officials reported.

Randy Hanson, assistant principal at Washington Middle School, said a special needs student was suspended for five days after making verbal threats of violence to another student in a hallway of the school.

Five to six student witnessed the incident. There were no weapons involved in the incident, Hanson said.

"There's no tolerance for even verbal threats," said Hanson. "It's an automatic out."

The police department is following up on the incident, and Hanson gave credit to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and DARE officer Brian Brewer with helping kids deal with such situations.

"Especially this year," Hanson said in light of the recent spate of school shootings.

Under the school's weapons and assault policy, a student in violation can be suspended up to 10 days -- at the school's discretion -- and the police are notified about the incident. The possibility of expulsion from the school is also considered by Jerry Walseth, superintendent of Brainerd Schools.

Under the same policy, a Franklin Junior High School student was recently suspended for carrying a knife on school grounds March 14.