Norwich ― An elementary school student was removed from a school bus bound for the John B. Stanton School Tuesday morning after the bus driver learned the student had a knife, according to school officials.

The driver took the knife and called police and school administrators. Three police officers and a school administrator responded to the bus, Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow wrote in a letter to Stanton families and school staff. The incident occurred after the second bus stop, and only three students were on the bus at the time, Stringfellow wrote. Four other students were entering the bus at the stop.

The student was removed from the bus and the matter was turned over to police for investigation. The bus proceeded directly to the school, and two other buses picked up the remaining students on the route, Stringfellow wrote.

Parents of students involved were contacted. All students and staff were safe, Stringfellow wrote. School administrators, counselors and social workers supported the students who saw the knife. The school resource officer, who initially responded to the bus, remained at Stanton for the rest of the day.

Stringfellow said Tuesday she could not divulge more details, including whether the student was displaying the knife and how the bus driver learned about it.

During Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, board Chairman Robert Aldi addressed the incident briefly and said it has been turned over to Norwich police for a full investigation.

“I implore the guardians, I implore the parents of our children coming to school,” Aldi said. “Please take the time, talk to your children, check their backpacks before they leave the house and board the bus to alleviate these types of problems going forward. This is a team effort, and we need you as part of this team to keep the safety of our students, the safety of our staff and our faculty.”

c.bessette@theday.com