On Friday afternoon, a student at Meadow Hill Elementary School in Newburgh brought three box cutters to school. On the bus ride home, the student attempted to distribute the box cutters, when the bus driver was alerted they immediately returned back to the school.

The student was removed from the bus and their parents were notified. Students in younger grade levels are not subject to walk through a metal detector, or go through a bag search when entering the school.

The administration does not believe the weapons were taken out during the school day, but they were brought on school grounds.

“I cannot disclose discipline matters, but I can assure you that we take this issue very seriously,” said Principal Dennis Camt. “We work hard to provide a safe learning environment of our scholars.”

When asked about any changes in the safety protocol of younger students the school’s administration has no further comment.

This incident comes after multiple questions of safety in the district, including a student bringing a kitchen knife and the body slamming of a teacher both at Newburgh Free Academy.

The district considered placing armed police officers on all school grounds, but it was removed from the budget after being pushed down by the Board of Education. When asked about the use of armed guards on social media community members were mixed in their responses.

“I don’t like my children going to jail environment. It gives a pessimistic view of the world,” wrote one parent. “It’s a waste of money and a sign of a school’s insecurity in predicting and addressing warning signs.”

Other community members were more on board with the idea of extra protection.

“Unfortunately in this day and age it’s probably needed,” wrote one community member.

Earlier in the year the district held a safety forum to discuss with community members ways the school can move forward in its protection of students. The use of metal detectors at the elementary level was discussed, but many parents found it would be disturbing for children to be subject to bag searches and walk through a metal detector at such a young age.