Parent urges board to investigate Jack Benny look‑alike weapon incident; asks for meeting after what she says was delayed district response

During public comment a parent described an incident at Jack Benny Middle School involving what she said were look‑alike weapons with projectiles, and urged the district to bring the episode before the board, saying the event was recorded on school cameras and that district investigators had not fully shared findings with families.

The parent told the board she had followed the district’s chain of command and met with a district administrator; after a period of no response she said she had not yet been contacted by the superintendent’s office and requested a formal meeting. “It involved a look alike weapon that did have projectiles … the students were playing Russian roulette with that gun, passing it back and forth, pulling the trigger, putting it up to their head and pulling the trigger,” the parent said in public comment.

The parent said the incident affected her child’s sleep and well‑being and cited a family history of suicide by firearm as a reason the matter was especially traumatic. She said she had FOIAed nine previous look‑alike weapon cases in the district and asserted that in those instances students were expelled; she asked why that disciplinary path was not followed in the Jack Benny case. The parent also said she received an email from the district’s general counsel that she characterized as threatening and reiterated she would await a requested meeting.

Board leadership acknowledged the comment during opportunity for public comment; board members and staff did not take immediate public action during the meeting. The district noted the student support handbook was under first reading on the agenda and staff said policy updates and recommendations regarding look‑alike weapons and related student safety practices were included for later consideration.