All but one meeting of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education since the academic year started in August has included consideration of the expulsion of a student, in part because of rigid requirements of Illinois law governing weapons in school.
Any time a student brings a gun or any other item to school or a school event that could “cause bodily harm,” Illinois law mandates a minimum one-year expulsion, but gives the superintendent and the board the ability to modify the punishment.
Though no student has brought a firearm to school this year, Oscar Dupuy, the district’s director of student outreach, said some situations may be serious but they might also include a situation where, for example, a student who forgets to remove the box cutter used at work the night before from a coat pocket.
“We give them consequences depending on the entire situation,” Dupuy said. “There is (usually) a suspension with a safety plan to put supports in place for the student so they can get back to a regular routine.”
The state’s expulsion law resulted in 11 Board of Education discussions and votes between the Aug. 27 and Feb. 11 board meetings in Waukegan, where disciplinary suggestions of Superintendent Theresa Plascencia were ratified.
Of those incidents, seven involving weapons resulted in out-of-school suspensions with a safety plan for the student, according to school records. Four resulted in expulsions with an external placement for physical altercations or battery, according to statements made at board meetings.
Under the provisions of the weapon portion of the state’s school code, weapon incidents can range from the forgotten box cutter to an empty “small little yellow squirt gun” one student points at another, as well as more serious situations.
“We give them requirements depending on the whole situation,” Dupuy said. “We want the safety plan to be meaningful. In the box-cutter situation, we may have the student go to a (designated) entrance where they can be checked by security.”
Along with specific required behavior, Dupuy said a social-emotional component is involved. The goal of the safety plan is to place the student in a situation where the requirements become part of a daily routine.
After the incident is discovered, he said parents become involved, discussions take place and the principal of the particular school makes a recommendation to the superintendent. The safety plan is part of the suggestion.
Not only does the law allow the superintendent to implement discipline, but Dupuy said the board must either approve it or make an amendment it deems suitable. In all 11 matters this year, the board ratified the administration’s suggestions.
Education is a way students and their families learn about items which can be classified as weapons and must not be brought to school. Dupuy said the principals also send written communications.
“The student handbook has this information,” he said. “The principals have huddles with the community where these issues are discussed. It is reinforced with letters to let families know the expectations of what their children should not bring to school.”
The names of the students and their year in school are not included in the public records and board meeting statements about disciplinary matters. Dupuy said it is a policy to protect young people.
Though the weapon can be a “yellow squirt gun” or a tool a student uses while working at their place of employment before or after school, when the report is read at a board meeting only the word “weapon” is used as was done at the Feb. 11 meeting and others before it. The suspension was served before the meeting.
