School Urged to Expel 3 in Alleged Plot : Education: Officials say boys aged 12 and 13, armed with guns and knives, schemed to take over a classroom. More than 200 parents demand further action after the three are suspended.

More than 200 worried parents descended Monday on Marine View Middle School demanding the expulsion of three students who allegedly had schemed to take over a classroom with knives and loaded handguns.

“We need to get these three boys out of the school permanently,” parent Bill Coltrain said at a meeting with school administrators and police. “I think we dodged a bullet this time. We were really lucky.”

School administrators assured parents at two separate meetings Monday that the boys are under a five-day suspension which will probably be extended Thursday as the district pursues their expulsion.

According to police, a 13-year-old student armed with two loaded handguns, a machete and a knife, and two 12-year-old accomplices apparently had planned to take over a classroom. School officials said they were emulating a police television show or a music video. The plot was foiled when a fourth student, who was shown the weapons, told the principal.

“The fourth student is a hero,” Principal Janet K. Reece told the parents. “He averted a disaster because of his actions.”

But to many parents, the fact that the plan got as far as it did was alarming.

“This is very frightening,” said Bill Doering, whose 13-year-old daughter attends the school. “A strong message needs to be sent. (The administration) shouldn’t show any leniency.”

“I don’t think there’s any question that they should be expelled,” added parent Barry Blithe.

John Thomas, the director of student services at the district, said that “there is a strong case for expulsion.” That process, however, could take weeks, he added. The decision rests with the school board.

In addition to the school’s disciplinary actions, police have asked the district attorney’s office to charge the 13-year-old with possession of a weapon on school grounds and conspiracy to commit kidnaping.

Huntington Beach Lt. Luis Ochoa said Monday that detectives are still investigating the incident to determine whether charges should be filed against the 12-year-olds.

Ochoa added that police are considering whether to seek charges against the parents of the older boy under a 1992 state law making it a criminal offense to leave a weapon in a place accessible to children.

Reece said she was sympathetic to the Marine View parents’ concerns and told them that school officials are committed to ensuring “the safety and welfare of the students.” After the morning meeting she called the boys’ takeover plot “an aberration.” At the evening meeting she added that rest of the student body was taking the incident in stride.

“It was business as usual around here today,” she said, noting that it also was “picture day” for the school album.

Reece said that school psychologists were available to students Monday, but few students felt the need to talk with them.

“I don’t think it’s any less shocking to the students than it is to the parents,” she said. But some students are wondering why parents, teachers and the media “are making such a big deal about it,” she added.

Another meeting is scheduled for today for any parents who still have questions, Reece said.