According to Parkland School District Superintendent Richard Sniscak, there was no threat to the health, safety or welfare of the school community when a student was discovered March 18 with a Taser at the high school.

That, Sniscak told The Press March 26, was the reason an email was sent to parents six days later, rather than immediately.

Sniscak referred to the incident last fall when emergency responders were called out and searched the high school following a report of a suspicous person, dressed in camouflage, saluting the flag outside the building before going inside.

"We will notify parents immediately in case of a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the school community, Sniscak said. "There never was a threat [in this incident] here in the school."

The email sent to parents said the investigation revealed the student received the Taser from another student.

"This constitutes a violation of the Parkland School District weapons policy and any student who violates this policy is subject to appropriate discipline..." the email stated in part.

This discipline, according to Sniscak, is governed by Pennsylvania Act 26 of 1995 and school district policy.

While Act 26 requires the expulsion for at least one year of any student who possesses a weapon on school property, the superintendent of each school district, however, can recommend the child not be expelled on an individual basis.

In addition, Pennsylvania school districts may not adopt "zero tolerance policies" that do not allow the superintendent to consider the individual circumstances of a student.

"Common sense may prevail," Sniscak said, of both Act 26 and district policy. "The superintendent may recommend discipline short of expulsion on a case-by-case basis."

Sniscak would not say what the discipline was in the case of these two students.

According to South Whitehall Township Police Sgt. Michael Sorrentino, both teens were arrested and charged with a weapons offense, disorderly conduct and referred to Lehigh County Juvenile Probation.