School administrators discover weapons before any damage is done

Last week, school administrators halted “a verbal altercation” and “an exchange of looks” between students on school grounds and disbursed the gathering before blows were exchanged. Administrators brought the apparent aggressors inside where a search of a backpack with the number 13 written on the back revealed a bandana, a locking blade knife, and a billy club. Administrators then called the police. All three items are violations of school codes, and the billy club is listed as a dangerous weapon by police.
The 17-year-old Eldridge student possessing the backpack was taken to Juvenile Hall and booked for possession of weapons at school and possession of a dangerous weapon, with a street gang enhancement. Sonoma Police Department Sgt. Dave Thompson, commenting on the arrest said, “The school is doing the best they can, but I wish they would go all the way. There’s too much blue and red at the school. I’d like to see it banned.”
Principal Michaela Philpot said that the school has a dress code, in which gang related clothing is forbidden. According to the code, students may not wear red or blue shoelaces or belts, and the numbers 13 or 14 are not allowed on items. There can be no belt buckles with initials, no color bandanas, no visible skull-caps, and no clothing with an area code printed on it. Also, there can be no gang-related signs or drawings in their possession. However, normal clothing in various colors, including red and blue, is not forbidden. “We do not have a policy that you can’t wear the color red or blue. [The police] may feel our dress code should be more stringent,” said Philpot. “We are always looking at our dress code and updating it, according to what’s the new thing as what’s considered gang attire.”
Philpot said there are consequences to violating the dress code. The first time a student is caught with gang indicators or signs, a warning is given, the parent is called and they are all reminded of the policy. For a second offense, the student can be suspended. If there is a third offense, the student can be expelled. So far in her experience, that has not happened, she said, and noted that the penalty for possessing a knife or weapon can be expulsion.
Sonoma Valley Unified School District Superintendent Barbara Young, who was at the high school at the time of the arrest, said, “We have members of gangs on our campus, but we do not allow gang activity on our campus. We enforce our dress policy. The minute we see those symbols, they’re taken away.”