By Albert Lea Tribune and Associated Press

The Minnesota Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether a United South Central High School student should have been expelled for having a pocket knife in her locker.

The USC school board in Wells expelled Alyssa Drescher for the final six weeks of her junior year in 2014. She said she left the knife in her purse in her locker by accident after doing chores on her boyfriend’s farm.

The Court of Appeals in July ruled that the district should not have expelled Drescher, who graduated last spring. It said her violation wasn’t intentional.

But the district, backed by the Minnesota School Boards Association, asked the Supreme Court to review the decision, saying it undermines the ability of schools to keep weapons out. They say it affects every school and student in Minnesota.

USC Superintendent Jerry Jensen said Wednesday he thinks it is important for the state Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals decision because of the implications that it has to the district in terms of being able to control weapons in the buildings and being able to give out the appropriate consequences for students who do not follow the guidelines.

Jensen said he is glad the court felt there was enough merit to hear the case.

“That’s positive,” he said.

He did not know when the case would come before the court.

Drescher’s father, Rick, after hearing in August about the district’s request to review the case, said the children at the school have seen a double standard from their teachers and the school administration and need to drop the issue.

“This just goes to show you that the school board can’t admit they’re wrong — that they can’t apologize for anything,” he said. “They’re going to waste taxpayers’ money instead of admitting that they’re wrong.”

His daughter completed high school as a post-secondary student and now attends Minnesota State University, Mankato.