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Janesville School District mum on expulsion details

JANESVILLE — Officials won't say whether a student was sending bullying messages, taking embarrassing photos or otherwise threatening someone's safety or privacy, but a student has been expelled for "inappropriate use" of a cellphone.

The offense happened at a school-sponsored event, and school district administrators dealt with it.

But on the advice of legal counsel, the school district won't be saying anything more, said Student Services Director Yolanda Cargile.

Cargile said revealing more information could infringe on the rights of the expelled student or the victim.

Cargile would not explain how those rights might be violated.

The district routinely does not reveal the identity of an expelled student, the school that the student attended, the student's grade or even the gender.

The only identifying information released was that the student was of middle school age.

Cargile said she conferred with Superintendent Karen Schulte and with expulsion-hearing officer Sara Gehrig, a local attorney, before responding to The Gazette's request for information about the incident.

The student was expelled for the duration of his or her eligibility to attend public schools but is allowed to apply for reinstatement as early as September 2013, if certain conditions are met, including:

-- Attendance at an alternative school that accepts expelled students, such as the district's Truancy Abatement and Transitional Education center or the TAGOS Leadership Academy.

-- Waiver of confidentiality for the student's Rock County juvenile file so the district can be kept abreast of the student's compliance with his/her juvenile case plan.

-- Continuation of counseling until a mental health provider certifies the student has gained "insight" into his/her behavior and is willing to comply with school rules.

-- Taking of all prescribed medicines.

-- Compliance with all laws.

If reinstated early, the student must continue with the items listed above and maintain satisfactory behavior, attendance and schoolwork.

The Janesville School Board last week also expelled a high school student who was accused of possessing a knife on school grounds.

That student was expelled through age 21 but could apply for reinstatement as early as summer school 2013.

Reinstatement conditions for the high school student are similar to those of the middle school student.

These were the first two expulsions of the year. The board had expelled the same number of students at this time last year.