A Springs School student is facing disciplinary consequences after firing a BB gun on an East Hampton Middle School bus returning from a football game in East Moriches last Thursday.
Debra Winter, the Springs School superintendent, said in a message to parents on Friday morning that "school administration and the police were alerted of the situation and immediately took action. This is an active police investigation."
Ms. Winter also noted in her message that there were no injuries involved, but because of privacy concerns, the district would be unable to release specific details. "The school district's utmost concern is the safety and security of all of our students and staff," she said.
Local schools have had longstanding shared-sports agreements in which students from other schools can play on East Hampton teams when their home districts do not field a team in certain sports. Students from Springs, Sag Harbor, and Montauk, for instance, play on the East Hampton Middle School football team.
A second student involved in the incident was from Montauk, according to Adam Fine, the East Hampton School District superintendent. While there has been talk among parents that other students were being disciplined for not speaking up about the BB gun, Mr. Fine said that "no students in East Hampton are being disciplined for not coming forward."
Ms. Winter said in a follow-up email to The Star that other Springs students who play on the football team "will participate in restorative practices. This is not disciplinary, but reflective."
The district has been working on instituting "restorative practices" for more than a year, opting for fewer suspensions and detentions in favor of mediation and constructive conversations.
Ms. Winter also said that all students in sixth through eighth grades took part in a Tuesday assembly that was focused on safety and presented by the East Hampton Town Police Department. The involved students are receiving counseling from the school's mental health professionals, who have also been in communication with the students' parents.
"This incident reminds us of the importance of being visible and aware of our students and their actions, as well as building and fostering relationships with our students," Ms. Winter said.
Addressing the wider context of gun violence in schools, Mr. Fine said by email that "unfortunately, we live in a world where school shootings are all too common. Although this situation was a BB gun, it is still unacceptable. We need to continue to work with our students and help them understand that replica guns, pellet guns, [and] Airsoft guns are inappropriate to bring to school under any circumstances."
"I know I am stating what appears to be common sense," Mr. Fine added, "but adolescents sometimes have huge lapses of judgement."
According to an email to families from Kathy Masterson, the East Hampton School District athletic director, middle school football practice was canceled Friday and Monday. "We were made aware that a few students knew about the gun during the day," Ms. Masterson wrote. "I will personally be addressing the team before practice on Tuesday."
On Friday, Mr. Fine assured parents via email that "if any additional information comes to light that impacts our students, I will immediately reach out to you."
East Hampton Town police spokesman Detective Sgt. Ryan Hogan said the investigation is ongoing and is being handled by the school resource officer. "All of this involves juveniles, so there's limited information we can give out," he said.
This story has been updated since it was first published.