Expelled student remains in school
JANESVILLE — A student who was brought to an expulsion hearing two years ago now has an expulsion on his or her record, although the student never served any expulsion time out of school.
The high school student was accused of fighting in September 2010. The district's hearing officer and school board agreed to let the student stay in school after the initial suspension if the student would agree to several conditions.
The student agreed to get a drug/alcohol screen and comply with treatment recommendations; submit to unannounced drug screens, participate in counseling for anger, violence and bullying; remain in the school during lunchtime; and maintain satisfactory behavior and schoolwork. The student was no longer allowed to park on school grounds.
Students often are given a chance to complete such conditions to shorten or avoid their expulsions, but Yolanda Cargile, director of student services, said she knew of no expelled student like this one, who never served a day of an expulsion.
The student's expulsion hearing was reconvened in May 2011, January 2012 and May 2012, and again, last month.
Students are given extensions to complete their conditions if they can show they are working to complete them, Cargile said.
The student completed all the conditions but one—taking the district's Prime for Life anti-drug and-alcohol course.
Cargile said it never was clear why the student didn't take the course.
The student was expelled Sept. 17, but the term of the original expulsion order had expired, so the student never actually was out of school on an expulsion, Cargile said.
The hearing officer and school board, at that point, had no legal way of imposing a term of expulsion, but the expulsion will go on the student's record, Cargile said.
If the student moves to a different school district, the expulsion would be noted in records that would be sent to the new school, Cargile said, but otherwise, records of a student's expulsions are almost always kept confidential.
No students have been expelled yet this school year.
