Thursday, April 20, 2000

Three students who were found to have marijuana at Austin High School have been expelled for a year.

In a closed session, the Austin Public Schools Board of Education discussed the discipline measures it would take against three AHS students.

When the session was reopened, the board unanimously agreed to adopt three public resolutions, one for each of the expulsions recommended for "student A, student B and student C," as they have been referred to by district administration.

The facts of what happened aren’t privy to being released, according to the Freedom of Information Act, but details were provided.

Schools Superintendent Dr. James Hess said three students at the high school were found to be in possession of a controlled substance and/or drug paraphernalia. For one of the students, the offense was the second. Hess did say the substance was marijuana.

When approved, the expulsion will be for one calendar year. The district has the option of bringing the student back to school after a period of time has passed, through a special enrollment contract used specifically for this purpose.

If this avenue were used, the student then would be eligible to attend the Austin Area Learning Center or the Ranch School. The student also could petition another district for enrollment under the state open enrollment policy.

However, Hess said an outside district is under no obligation to provide this service to the three students. He added that their offenses would be noted, and any future high school they would attend outside of Austin would be notified of the circumstances.