Just weeks ago, a student caught with a knife in a Madison middle or high school was immediately suspended and recommended for expulsion, but a Madison School District vote Monday temporarily eased the zero-tolerance weapons policy to require only a five-day suspension.

The new rule was reached by a 4-3 vote and means three students who have been expelled for carrying knives could return to school by early next week, pending individual case review.

The action comes after the Board decided April 22 not to expel a local sixth-grader who was suspended for bringing a serrated steak knife to school to cut an onion.

Christian Schmidt, 12, was suspended for 14 days from Cherokee Middle School. He reportedly said he brought the knife for a presentation he was doing in science class about onions.

Board member Bill Keys said the temporary policy is only in effect for non-threatening knife possession and noted that repeat offenders would be expelled

“If [the knife] is being used as a weapon, or as a threat, we move to an entirely different level of punishment and consequences,” he said.

Board member Juan Jose Lopez was unavailable for comment Tuesday, but told the Capital Times the new rules “would create a mockery of the system we have in place.”

“I think it’s watering down what could prevent us from having a big mishap at school,” he said.

But Keys said some board members thought the old policy required too harsh of a punishment and disagreed with dissenters’ concerns.

“It still sends a strong message that no knives are allowed in school,” Keys said.

The temporary policy put in place Monday will be examined by a task force, which Keys said will work to suggest a new permanent weapons policy.

“This is a compromise to bridge us to a new policy,” Keys said.