EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) – A student who appeared to be under the influence was found in possession of a handgun at the Effingham College and Career Academy Tuesday morning, according to the superintendent. "Transparency and communication are key to maintaining trust and ensuring the safety of our students and staff, and I believe it is important for you to hear directly from me when incidents like this occur," Effingham County School District Superintendent Yancy Ford stated. Ford said a teacher at the high school noticed signs that the student was under the influence of an unknown substance and reported it to the school administration. As is protocol, administrators searched the student's belongings and found a handgun in their bag. A school resource officer stepped in to investigate. Help name the new Effingham County elementary school "We are grateful to the teacher and paraprofessional, our school administrators, and our SRO for their vigilance and quick response, which ensured the safety of everyone on campus," Ford said. Administrators believe this was an isolated incident. Ford's statement continued: At no point did the student make any threats, nor did we find evidence indicating a targeted plan against our school or any individuals.The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. We are committed to continuing our proactive measures to educate and remind our entire school community of the importance of vigilance when it comes to school safety. Our dedicated staff undergo regular training related to our safety plan and we encourage students to always report anything they find concerning.As Superintendent, I am committed to being transparent with you, our valued community, about situations that impact the safety and well-being of our students. I want to thank our teachers, staff, and school administrators for their diligence and for acting swiftly to resolve this situation.If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. Thank you for your continued partnership in making the Effingham County School District a safe and supportive environment for our students. News 3 is waiting to hear back from the district on what, if any, disciplinary action has been taken against the student.