District 1 expulsions increase

By Janice Kurbjun
Times staff writer

Expulsions from Carbon County School District 1 schools have nearly doubled in the past two years ago.

Two years ago, there were 10 students expelled from the district. In 2006-07, the number rose to 13. This year, 19 kids have been told to leave.

According to Duane DeWald, public information officer for the district, not many offenses warrant expulsion. The top two categories for misconduct include substance abuse — the using or selling of drugs, usually marijuana — and significant violence. Other expulsion-warranting offenses include possession of a weapon, serious threats and intimidation, theft and arson.

“These things are lumpy,” DeWald said, pointing out that this years numbers may be somewhat high because there have been groups of children caught doing the same activity.

“This year seems a little heavy,” District 1 Superintendent Peggy Sanders said. “But there are at least two situations that have involved three to four children, and that tends to skew the numbers.”

School board member Jim Espy said the district is looking into ways to both circumvent future misconduct and better address it when it happens.

Espy said the school board is examining ways to “make the punishment fit the crime,” designed especially for children who may be caught violating school policy, but are either less involved or are there unintentionally.

“Any time we have students who are expelled, it’s a concern to board members,” board member Kristi Groshart said. “Expulsion is the result of kids who are violating the rules, and (the board’s) concern is that we do what we can for all the students.”

Currently, district officials follow the state regulation of a one-year expulsion. However, early re-entry is possible if the student appeals to the superintendent with a letter of apology, has a clean criminal record and participates in out-of-school programs as recommended by district officials, like attending a 12-week counseling course on substance abuse, for example.

“We must have well-disciplined schools and the kids must be safe,” Sanders said. “Sometimes the discipline is severe enough that it almost amounts to zero tolerance. We have to draw the line on certain behavior, but we want them back as soon as seems possible.”