expulsion from school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the posters who had positive thoughts and suggestions. He was expelled. I am bringing a lawyer to the school board meeting to try to allow him to withdraw vs be expelled. Almost all of his teachers from 9th to 12th have sent letters on his behalf. I know he will not graduate with his friends but hope to minimize further damage.

Wow. I'm so sorry (and dismayed) to hear that. Was it the marijuana or the pocketknife that was the bigger issue? I'd definitely bring a lawyer and see if you can flat out get this reversed. Unless your son has some other history, this seems extreme. But in our current dumb society (CYA and zero tolerance) I guess I should not be surprised.

I am not dismayed. I bet you and the other posters who are the same who post “thoughts and prayers - something must be done” whenever there is violence in school. This is your answer. Both child and parent must be extra cautious to make sure nothing that can be construed as a weapon is on school property. It is that simple. This is to protect people and SO EASY to follow.

BS, I am not OP and you are ridiculous. Her kid had pot and a butter knife in his car he is not an active shooter. Yes he should be punished to learn his lesson but let's not act like this will in anyway improve school safety of his school by punishing this kid from this circumstance. It will not. Let the punishment fit the actual crime not the crime of others. My only advice to OP is that you and your son will get through this and in 10 years he will be better off for having to work through this. But I am sure it does not feel like it now and a lot of dreams seem to have been shattered, they have just been detoured. Good Luck.

He/they knew the rules about drugs and knives and violated both. Is it a surprise they are expelling him. OP should have gotten an attorney the day it happened and put him in a treatment program/therapy and been proactive vs. letting natural consequences happen. This will follow him forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew faced similar a expulsion hearing after his dad packed his lunch and included a butter knife for his laughing cow cheese & crackers. The school did take it very seriously even though my BIL was there to tell them he didn't even think that a butter knife would be illegal as he didn't typically pack lunches. Their recommendation was expulsion from the local middle school and enrollment in an alternative school. SIL & BIL checked into that school and it had serious criminals there. Like, kids who'd been to juvie, been in so many fights that they were kicked out or seriously wounded someone, etc. So they enrolled him in a private school instead. This was about 2 years ago. They even hired a good lawyer as well, but he said that schools are taking weapons found on campus more seriously than ever.

That's not a knife or a weapon, it is a condiment spreader. I would have switched schools too. Ridiculous.

+1

I would have bankrupted the county so fast.

Sure you would have.

How would you know? Or have any idea?

Wow, you are so cool.

[Anonymous]

A kid who is doing well in school, participates on sports teams and has a weekend job probably doesn't have drug problem or need drug treatment. Vaping a bit of pot while being highly functional is not a sign of a delinquent or addict.

Should he have been doing it - no. Should there be consequences - yes but in line with the 'crime'.

Expulsion and charges are absolutely ridiculous. A knife in a car in many places is culturally normal and appropriate. I carry a multitool with a good size blade in my car. I use it frequently for a wide range of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A kid who is doing well in school, participates on sports teams and has a weekend job probably doesn't have drug problem or need drug treatment. Vaping a bit of pot while being highly functional is not a sign of a delinquent or addict.

Should he have been doing it - no. Should there be consequences - yes but in line with the 'crime'.

Expulsion and charges are absolutely ridiculous. A knife in a car in many places is culturally normal and appropriate. I carry a multitool with a good size blade in my car. I use it frequently for a wide range of reasons.

A kid with a job, in sports and does well in school can absolutely have a drug problem. Bottomline is he got caught with drugs. That is an issue on school policy. You having a blade in your car, which is not on school grounds, is ok. On school grounds is not ok. He knew the rules. Parents knew the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A kid who is doing well in school, participates on sports teams and has a weekend job probably doesn't have drug problem or need drug treatment. Vaping a bit of pot while being highly functional is not a sign of a delinquent or addict.

Should he have been doing it - no. Should there be consequences - yes but in line with the 'crime'.

Expulsion and charges are absolutely ridiculous. A knife in a car in many places is culturally normal and appropriate. I carry a multitool with a good size blade in my car. I use it frequently for a wide range of reasons.

I agree. I feel bad for the kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew faced similar a expulsion hearing after his dad packed his lunch and included a butter knife for his laughing cow cheese & crackers. The school did take it very seriously even though my BIL was there to tell them he didn't even think that a butter knife would be illegal as he didn't typically pack lunches. Their recommendation was expulsion from the local middle school and enrollment in an alternative school. SIL & BIL checked into that school and it had serious criminals there. Like, kids who'd been to juvie, been in so many fights that they were kicked out or seriously wounded someone, etc. So they enrolled him in a private school instead. This was about 2 years ago. They even hired a good lawyer as well, but he said that schools are taking weapons found on campus more seriously than ever.

That's not a knife or a weapon, it is a condiment spreader. I would have switched schools too. Ridiculous.

+1

I would have bankrupted the county so fast.

Sure you would have.

How would you know? Or have any idea?

Wow, you are so cool.

Answer the question.

[Anonymous]

Sorry if this was mentioned already as I didn't have the patience to read all 8 pages. Drug convictions have some impact on federal student loans. In the past it might have been an automatic disqualification but I think they changed that. Something to look into before a hearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A kid who is doing well in school, participates on sports teams and has a weekend job probably doesn't have drug problem or need drug treatment. Vaping a bit of pot while being highly functional is not a sign of a delinquent or addict.

Should he have been doing it - no. Should there be consequences - yes but in line with the 'crime'.

Expulsion and charges are absolutely ridiculous. A knife in a car in many places is culturally normal and appropriate. I carry a multitool with a good size blade in my car. I use it frequently for a wide range of reasons.

A kid with a job, in sports and does well in school can absolutely have a drug problem. Bottomline is he got caught with drugs. That is an issue on school policy. You having a blade in your car, which is not on school grounds, is ok. On school grounds is not ok. He knew the rules. Parents knew the rules.

The majority of highly functional kids who smoke pot don't have a drug problem. He could be a rare one but something like 40% of kids smoke pot before graduating high school. They aren't all drug addicts. Regular pot use to the degree that is is problematic typically impacts motivation and engagement.

Yes he broke the rules, no he shouldn't be doing drugs - but the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

[Anonymous]

Bringing a lawyer to the school board meeting is a waste of money, OP. They'll tell you that you and the attorney should have at the school board hearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bringing a lawyer to the school board meeting is a waste of money, OP. They'll tell you that you and the attorney should have at the school board hearing.

PP above. I still don't understand why OP threw her kid to the wolves at the school board meeting and is just now lawyering up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew faced similar a expulsion hearing after his dad packed his lunch and included a butter knife for his laughing cow cheese & crackers. The school did take it very seriously even though my BIL was there to tell them he didn't even think that a butter knife would be illegal as he didn't typically pack lunches. Their recommendation was expulsion from the local middle school and enrollment in an alternative school. SIL & BIL checked into that school and it had serious criminals there. Like, kids who'd been to juvie, been in so many fights that they were kicked out or seriously wounded someone, etc. So they enrolled him in a private school instead. This was about 2 years ago. They even hired a good lawyer as well, but he said that schools are taking weapons found on campus more seriously than ever.

That's not a knife or a weapon, it is a condiment spreader. I would have switched schools too. Ridiculous.

+1

I would have bankrupted the county so fast.

Sure you would have.

How would you know? Or have any idea?

Wow, you are so cool.

Answer the question.

DP. I'll answer. Because the chances of an individual being able to bankrupt the County, especially when the kid was technically in violation, are slim to none. Could someone have been persistent enough to get the decision overturned? Of course, but I'd bet that the chance of you getting bankrupt in that pursuit would have been much higher than the county going bankrupt. Also, even if you were able to bankrupt the county (which is nonexistent), it definitely wouldn't be a fast process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bringing a lawyer to the school board meeting is a waste of money, OP. They'll tell you that you and the attorney should have at the school board hearing.

PP above. I still don't understand why OP threw her kid to the wolves at the school board meeting and is just now lawyering up.

Hindsight is 20/20. Maybe OP didn't grasp that grown adults wouldn't get the difference between a 4 inch pocket knife locked in a car and a weapon brought into school to harm others. Maybe she should have understood given the atmosphere we have around violence in school, but I don't think she was throwing her kids to the wolves. She should still hire a lawyer who specializes in this area and has significant experience with the specific school district to see if there is anything that can be done to mitigate the results. That's the best she can do at this point. OP, if you're still on the thread, good luck and post back if you're able to have any of the decisions overturned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the posters who had positive thoughts and suggestions. He was expelled. I am bringing a lawyer to the school board meeting to try to allow him to withdraw vs be expelled. Almost all of his teachers from 9th to 12th have sent letters on his behalf. I know he will not graduate with his friends but hope to minimize further damage.

Wow. I'm so sorry (and dismayed) to hear that. Was it the marijuana or the pocketknife that was the bigger issue? I'd definitely bring a lawyer and see if you can flat out get this reversed. Unless your son has some other history, this seems extreme. But in our current dumb society (CYA and zero tolerance) I guess I should not be surprised.

I am not dismayed. I bet you and the other posters who are the same who post “thoughts and prayers - something must be done” whenever there is violence in school. This is your answer. Both child and parent must be extra cautious to make sure nothing that can be construed as a weapon is on school property. It is that simple. This is to protect people and SO EASY to follow.

BS, I am not OP and you are ridiculous. Her kid had pot and a butter knife in his car he is not an active shooter. Yes he should be punished to learn his lesson but let's not act like this will in anyway improve school safety of his school by punishing this kid from this circumstance. It will not. Let the punishment fit the actual crime not the crime of others. My only advice to OP is that you and your son will get through this and in 10 years he will be better off for having to work through this. But I am sure it does not feel like it now and a lot of dreams seem to have been shattered, they have just been detoured. Good Luck.

He/they knew the rules about drugs and knives and violated both. Is it a surprise they are expelling him. OP should have gotten an attorney the day it happened and put him in a treatment program/therapy and been proactive vs. letting natural consequences happen. This will follow him forever.

It wouldn't cross my mind that a camping knife in the CAR would violate school rules. Sure, you can't bring inside, but in the car? I don't mind the rule, but I think it's easy for someone not to know it and punishment should be educational (community service, detention after school) and not something that reduces access to education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew faced similar a expulsion hearing after his dad packed his lunch and included a butter knife for his laughing cow cheese & crackers. The school did take it very seriously even though my BIL was there to tell them he didn't even think that a butter knife would be illegal as he didn't typically pack lunches. Their recommendation was expulsion from the local middle school and enrollment in an alternative school. SIL & BIL checked into that school and it had serious criminals there. Like, kids who'd been to juvie, been in so many fights that they were kicked out or seriously wounded someone, etc. So they enrolled him in a private school instead. This was about 2 years ago. They even hired a good lawyer as well, but he said that schools are taking weapons found on campus more seriously than ever.

That's not a knife or a weapon, it is a condiment spreader. I would have switched schools too. Ridiculous.

+1

I would have bankrupted the county so fast.

Sure you would have.

How would you know? Or have any idea?

Wow, you are so cool.

Answer the question.

DP. I'll answer. Because the chances of an individual being able to bankrupt the County, especially when the kid was technically in violation, are slim to none. Could someone have been persistent enough to get the decision overturned? Of course, but I'd bet that the chance of you getting bankrupt in that pursuit would have been much higher than the county going bankrupt. Also, even if you were able to bankrupt the county (which is nonexistent), it definitely wouldn't be a fast process.

So what if it is not a "fast process"? It can be done. "Technically in violation" is a potentially broad term. There are lawyers that specialize in this type of thing - and they don't just work for the county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bringing a lawyer to the school board meeting is a waste of money, OP. They'll tell you that you and the attorney should have at the school board hearing.

PP above. I still don't understand why OP threw her kid to the wolves at the school board meeting and is just now lawyering up.

Hint: The schools usually do this type of thing on a Friday for a reason - it is to their advantage.