Three male high school students were expelled after three individual hearings by the Pea Ridge School Board. Parents for two of the students requested a closed hearing. One parent said his son's hearing could be open.
The students were each expelled for the remainder of the school year and will each have the ability to take online classes at the expense of Pea Ridge schools. They may return to school at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year.
"You're going to have to make a decision on whether you want to continue down that path or reach out and get some help," board member Jenny Wood said to one 16-year-old student. "Your folks are behind you on that. It's on you. We're looking at online courses to keep you on grade level. Best wishes."
"We struggled with this, more so than anything. We fully believe you're a good guy and made a bad decision," board member Jeff Neil said, explaining that the decision to expel was " based on actions and for the safety of school."
The student's parents said they would stand behind the school's decision.
"This is the most heart-wrenching part of the job," school superintendent Rick Neal said. "It's hard for us to do this type of work. My heart hurts for you. We will reach out to you."
The second hearing was also closed at the request of the student's mother; he was not present. After returning to open session, board members moved to expel the 16-year-old student for the remainder of the school year with a possibility of online classes.
"I hope he knows what a big backer he has with you," Wood said to the student's mother.
The third student's father said the hearing could be open.
High School principal Charley Clark said the decision to expel was based upon a school policy governing gangs and gang activity that "causes fear" and "disrupts learning." Clark said there was an incident at school the morning of Monday, Aug. 20, involving a fight in the bathroom. Several students were "summoned to be in the hall" via text.
"At this point, we have a connection between what happened off campus and on campus," Clark said, referring to a fight that happened Friday, Aug. 17, off campus, and the incident Monday, Aug. 20. He said the student in question was at the incident that happened off campus, as well as the incident on campus.
Clark said the incident on campus was a "premeditated fight on campus" involving injury to a student who told the nurse he injured his shoulder in football practice. Clark said the student lied to the nurse because of fear, "intimidation going through school" which created an "environment not conducive to learning."
The father questioned whether school officials were sure of the information, to which Clark said they were and there were witness accounts as well as video.
General News on 09/12/2018