A Panther Valley student carried a toy airsoft pistol while riding a school bus to classes on Jan. 4.

While school and law enforcement officials determined there was no threat to students or employees, they alerted parents to the situation and are planning to take disciplinary action against the student.

According to an alert issued that day by district Superintendent David McAndrew, a student told administrators that he saw another student with the gun on the school bus. Administrators searched the student and found the toy airsoft pistol.

The district contacted local law enforcement, who determined there was no threat.

“Airsoft guns can resemble real weapons, but are actual toy replicas. Many children might have been given Christmas presents that are not allowed in school,” McAndrew wrote in his alert.

He advised parents to tell their children that they should never bring anything that resembles a weapon to school.

“Student safety is our first concern,” McAndrew explained.

He noted that the district is not taking the situation lightly and disciplinary action will be taken according to district policies.

“We thought it was in the best interest to immediately share the information to our community to be transparent. We did not want anyone hearing pieces of the story weeks from now. Our goal was to share factual information,” McAndrew told the Times News Wednesday.

The district’s weapons policy defines weapons as knives, firearms, cutting tools and “replicas of a weapon.”

It notes that students are prohibited from bringing weapons and weapon replicas to schools, school activities, or any public vehicle providing transportation to or from school or school-related activities.

Students found in violation of the policy can face expulsion following due process proceedings required by law and board policy.

“The superintendent may recommend modifications of such expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis,” the policy notes.