At a regular meeting Tuesday, the Chilton County Board of Education approved Superintendent Dave Hayden’s recommendation to place a Clanton Middle School student in the Chilton Alternative Program after the student allegedly brought an explosive to school Feb. 7.

Clanton police officers responded to the school the morning of Feb. 7 at the request of faculty and spoke with the student, a seventh grader, who was being held by faculty.

The school was placed on “lockdown” as officers searched for the device, which was in the possession of the student.

According to police, the device was a “Play-Doh” can measuring about 1.5 inches in diameter that contained 18 grams of pyrotechnic powder and 4.2 grams of bird shot.

The student was taken into custody and transferred to a juvenile detention facility in Montgomery.

The student has been charged with possession of a destructive device, which is a felony, Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell said in an interview Feb. 12. The student’s case will be processed through juvenile court.

Regarding the student’s discipline from the school system, Hayden said an administrative hearing was held Feb. 14, and in determining the appropriate action to take, the following facts and circumstances were considered: this student had no previous disciplinary record, and credible evidence exists that there was no harmful or ill intent.

Hayden said the student committed a violation of board policy by possessing a dangerous weapon or device.

The board approved for the student to be removed from regular classes in Chilton County Schools for a period of one year and placed in the Chilton Alternative Program.