By Matt Gleckman

One live .38 caliber bullet, 1/8 of a pound of gun powder and several other contraband items were found in the backpack of a sixth-grader at Cortez Middle School (CMS) last Tuesday.

According to Re-1 superintendent Bill Thompson, the 11-year-old boy was originally questioned by faculty members after another student tipped them off about a laser pointer the youth had been using on school grounds.

Thompson said that laser pointers (which are used in place of pointing sticks and utilize a red laser light) are illegal in the school not only because they are a distraction to students but also because they can cause harm when shined directly into the eyes.

"Faculty members asked the student to hand over the laser pointer and when the boy refused they searched his backpack," said Thompson. "During the search administrators found two .38 cal. shells (one live, one blank), a 9mm shell, the gun powder, cigarette butts, a lighter that didn’t work and several pornographic magazines."

CMS Vice Principal Tom Burris also stated that the search took place after students gave the faculty reason to believe that the student in question was in possession of items that are illegal on school grounds.

"We could put up expensive metal detectors and magnets in the doorways, but if a kid is intent on getting something illegal into the school they will find a way," said Burris. "CMS has a lot of good kids who take pride in their school and don’t want to see bad things happening in it. These kids are the best type of defense."

"After searching the boy’s backpack and locker and questioning other CMS students, it was determined that the boy had no malicious intent and no other students were involved," said Burris.

According to the boy’s stepfather, the youth claimed that he was carrying the contraband around in his backpack in order to keep the items hidden from his parents.

"He has been suspended for five days and he has to go before the school board next week, where they will decide if he will be expelled," his stepfather said. "This is his 14th violation so far this year, so I doubt he will be going back to school for a while."

Although lockdown measures were not required within the school and charges were not filed, the young boy was handcuffed, arrested and brought to the Cortez police station where mug shots and fingerprints were taken.

Thompson stated that he is not sure whether the boy will face expulsion or just a suspension.

Because the boy did not bring an actual weapon to school he is not in violation of the school’s no-tolerance weapons policy, Thompson explained.