GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Some parents in the metro are upset after a video surfaced allegedly showing a student with a gun in a Sandburg Middle School bathroom.
In a letter to parents, Sandburg Middle School Principal Jay Hancock said a video is circulating on social media that shows a student holding what appears to be a gun in a bathroom at the school.
Hancock said they began investigating once they were aware of it last Friday and that no threats were made to staff or students.
Police said Robbinsdale Area Schools didn't contact them about the incident until six days after it happened.
"Local law enforcement should have been contacted," said Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green.
Robbinsdale Area Schools, however, said it contacted police the day of the incident.
Parents are upset that the school only put out an official letter Wednesday, five days after they knew about it.
"While the student in the video has been identified, due to student data privacy laws we cannot share additional details," it read.
"I'm horrified," said one Sandburg parent who asked to be off-camera. "I'm absolutely horrified. You want to send your children to school and the assumption is they're going to be safe."
"I'm ready to disenroll my child and homeschool," said another.
One mother whose child is set to soon go to Sandburg told KARE 11 that she feels the district isn't being transparent.
"What is it going to take for the district to really understand the seriousness of this and overall safety?" she asked.
On Friday, officials with Robbinsdale Area Schools said they're cooperating with the investigation, but are unable to hand over the video to police because of federal law. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits the district from releasing videos or other "education record" on current or former students, except in certain circumstances, district officials say.
They added that they would be able to if they were served a court order, search warrant or a valid subpoena.
District officials also told KARE 11 they're investigating another incident.
The principal of Robbinsdale Middle School sent a letter to parents about an incident Tuesday that a student brought a gun to school and showed it to a handful of students.
"We learned the student with the weapon had also made a threat against the school on Monday using a social media platform," said Principal Shirrie Jackson.
That student has also been identified.
"I think a lot of us are very concerned," said one Sandburg mother. "Very concerned for our children's safety."