Fifth Grader Took Knife to School

Classmates' parents upset they weren't notified

WESLACO - A Weslaco fifth grader was suspended for taking a knife to school. Now some parents are upset they weren't notified about the incident.

"I can't believe we weren't notified," says Irene Rodriguez, one parent we spoke to.

The incident happened at Airport Elementary.

Weslaco ISD Superintendent Richard Rivera says, "The teacher became aware... that he had a pocket knife. She called the principal. Airport Elementary Principal Ida Cuadra decided to punish the student and only notify his parents."

It's the principal's choice whether parents should be told.

The superintendent tells us, "I understand some parents might feel uneasy that they were not informed. But again, it was her decision - her investigation - that it was not necessary."

He defends the principal's decision, but he says he understands why parents could be upset.

"I think parents, yes, they have a right to know whenever there is a big danger. But in this case, there was no danger," he explains.

But some parents say they should've been informed.

One parent NEWSCHANNEL 5 spoke to says, "Now what's gonna happen is everybody's going to find out like this. And that's bad. Because what's going to happen... parents are going to call in, complain, when she should have notified us to begin with."

The student who had the knife was suspended. We're told he won't be allowed to attend an end-of-the-year field trip.