MACON COUNTY, N.C. (828NewsNow) — Mountain Valley Intermediate School Principal posted on social media about an incident that happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 12 on a Macon County school bus, where a student reportedly claimed that he had a gun.
Principal Nancy Breedlove said a report was made that the student had stated he had a gun in his possession and was repeatedly reaching into his pockets. Another student heard and saw this and called 911, Breedlove said.
When the bus got to school, law enforcement conducted a search for a weapon, and no weapon was found.
Mountain Valley Intermediate School’s Resource Officer met the school bus upon its arrival to the school in Franklin, and additional deputies from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist, the post said.
“There were 11 students on the bus at the time of the incident. We are making individual phone calls to the families of each student who was on the bus to ensure they are informed directly,” she said. “Please know that student safety is always our highest priority. The situation was taken seriously, and law enforcement personnel responded promptly to investigate the report. Our school counselors have also been made available to provide support to any students who may need additional reassurance or an opportunity to talk about what occurred.”
Breedlove addressed parents and guardians of students, saying they could “use this opportunity to have a conversation with your child about the seriousness of making statements about having a weapon or pretending to have one.”
“Statements or actions of this nature are never something to be taken lightly. In our efforts to protect the safety of our students and faculty, we will always take these reports seriously and respond accordingly,” she said. “We appreciate the student who spoke up and reported a concern. We continually remind our students that if they see or hear something that makes them feel unsafe, they should tell a trusted adult or contact the appropriate authorities.”