There Are Six Violations That Lead To Expulsion. But Principals Have Right To Review.
BY: EDUCATION DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — There are several disciplinary violations that will lead to automatic suspension or expulsion in the Palm Beach County School District during the 2023-2024 school year, according to a School Board document reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com. The School Board is preparing to approve this document during this September 6th meeting.
Zero Tolerance Offenses: The following offenses pose a threat to school safety: i. Bringing a firearm or weapon, as defined by Fla. Stat. § 790, to school, to any school function, or onto any school-sponsored transportation or possessing a firearm at school; ii. Making a threat or false report as defined by Fla. Stat. § 790. involving school or school personnel’s property, school transportation or school sponsored activity; iii. Threatening to throw, project, place, or discharge any destructive device; iv. Making a false report, with the intent to deceive, mislead, or otherwise misinform any person, concerning the placing or planting of any bomb, dynamite, other deadly explosive, or weapon of mass destruction; as defined by Fla. Stat. § 790.163; or v. Posting or transmitting a threat of mass shooting/violence or terrorism as defined by Fla. Stat.
Pursuant to FLA. Stat. 1003.31, the School Board has the right to expel any student who is found to have committed an offense on school property at any time if the student is found guilty of a felony, or is found to have committed, or has adjudication withheld for a delinquent act which would be a felony if committed by an adult.
While the rules are firm, there sometimes may be more to the story. For that reason, school leaders are also being told that there may be options for disciplinary action when the punishment wouldn’t fit the violation. Also from the code to be approved:
Discretion: Nothing in this Policy shall be construed to remove the discretion (when allowed by law) of the principal/designee, District administration, or in cases where mitigating circumstances may affect decisions on disciplinary action. The first version of the Palm Beach County School District’s “Zero Tolerance” policy was put into effect in December of 2002.
