A student at Chippewa Elementary School is being disciplined for bringing an “inappropriate item” to class and making a comment about using it toward another student.

The incident happened on Wednesday, and the district says they notified police the same day.

Sometime afterward, Principal Michael Saidens sent a letter to the community.

The school called it an isolated incident, saying that the student made an inappropriate comment and had brought in an inappropriate item to school.

The district is investigating the situation. Saidens says, “While this incident involved two children, enough concerns have been brought to my attention that I wanted the opportunity to address the Chippewa community. I am confident that the students and staff at Chippewa are safe.”

One parent told News 12 that a classmate in his fifth grade daughter’s classmate brought in a sharp object he believes was a knife and threatened to hurt another student with it. 

The district told News 12 the item was not a knife but did not elaborate on further details.

The parent says the school did not notify them about the incident right away.

One woman says her grandson goes to the school and that parents need to be more cautious checking backpacks before their children get on the school bus.

“They need to know – if it’s a fifth grader, they need to know what’s inside their backpack,” Lisa says. “I know I always did.”

The school is working with the two families to provide support and appropriate discipline.