Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Parents To Choose Child's Fate After School Board Meeting

Parents of a middle school student face a difficult decision.

Gurdon's School Board, in a special meeting Thursday, March 7, gave them the choice of withdrawing their child, or having the student expelled for the remainder of the school year.

The hearing was called to discuss the fate of a Gurdon Middle School student who had been caught with a substance believed to be marijuana.

The parents agreed to have the hearing held in open session, even though only they and the board, along with a media representative, were present.

Board President Charles Ledbetter said the purpose of the hearing was to determine the punishment for the student. He said page 11 of the student handbook gave the board permission to expel or suspend a student caught with drugs on campus.

Ledbetter told the parents they could address the board with any questions they may have, and the board would ask questions it had.

Superintendent Bobby Smithson said on Feb. 29, GMS Principal Jeff Alexander wrote him a note stating he had confiscated a canister from a student and suspected it to contain marijuana.

Smithson said Alexander called the Gurdon Police Department to get the substance tested. Field tests showed it to be marijuana, as suspected.

At this time, the student was suspended. Smithson said a student can be suspended for up to 10 days without board action, but any further action had to be taken by the board itself.

Alexander said at about 12:15 p.m. on Feb. 29, he saw the student pull a canister out of his pocket and show it to other students.

He asked the student to come to his office, and the child complied.

Alexander said he then asked if what the student had was marijuana and was told it was.

"I tried to call the parents, but got no answer," he said. "Then I called the police, and gave them the canister. I asked for a report on the substance. Field tests showed it to be marijuana."

Alexander said the student's parents showed up later that afternoon. He said they were read the policy and told the student could withdraw for the remainder of the semester or be expelled and lose all of the credits built up to this time.

The parents requested a board hearing, Alexander said.

Smithson asked the student if the marijuana was his, as he has heard through the grapevine it wasn't.

The student said he had been holding it for another student, but didn't name them during the hearing.

Smithson asked the student if Alexander had been told this, and was told yes.

Alexander confirmed this, saying the student also refused to tell him who the marijuana was being held for.

Alexander said he talked to this other student, who denied everything.

He said the student gave the police the name of the other student, and the police told him.

The student in question, however, said the marijuana was being held so the other student wouldn't get caught with it.

However, the student said he had not seen anyone smoke marijuana on campus, nor had anyone tried to sell him any.

Alexander brought the student's discipline report to the hearing for the board. He said the student had disrupted class four times and was disciplined for horseplay in the hallway once.

A couple of teachers, Alexander said, said the student wasn't doing his work in class. The student was called into Alexander's office and allegedly copped an attitude.

The student was suspended at this time until the parents were brought to school. This happened after one day.

According to Alexander, the student's brother helped alleviate the situation, and the student's teachers bragged on the change and complimented the work done.

Board member Robert Burns asked if this was the first time the student who allegedly gave the marijuana to the other student had brought the drug to school.

He was told it was not.

Burns then asked if the Clark County Sheriff's Office didn't check the school with the narcotics dog.

Smithson said they had, but found nothing. "I was pleased, but we never know when they're coming."

At this point, the board went into executive session to determine a punishment. Alexander was called in to participate.

When the board returned about 15 minutes later, Alexander was asked what his recommendation was.

He recommended giving the student one more chance to withdraw for the semester or be expelled and lose all credits built up.

The board concurred, and the parents left.

When asked why such a harsh sentence was recommended, Alexander said he has no tolerance for drugs in his building.

The board said they were just following the handbook policy on the matter.

According to the handbook, for grades 5-8, students are permitted to withdraw from school for the remainder of the semester. If they don't, the board will expel the student for the remainder of the semester with loss of all credit.

In other business conducted, Smithson said there was a lack of communication concerning the junior/senior prom.

In years past, the prom has been held at the DeGray State Park Lodge.

However, this year, a request was made for the prom to be held on the Belle of Hot Springs cruise boat on Lake Hamilton.

The problem, Smithson said, is he had been contacted by the prom's sponsors and a meeting scheduled. When the appointment time came, the sponsors didn't show up.

Later on, they asked him of there were any new policy's on where the prom could be held. He said no.

Originally, the prom had been scheduled in the high school's cafetorium, but there was opposition to this location.

Smithson said the sponsors asked him if the prom could be held out of town, but gave him no location.

He said the sponsors didn't talk to GHS Principal Leonard Gill before coming to him.

The superintendent said he had two problems with the prom being on the Belle.

First is all students won't have transportation to Hot Springs. However, he said, this was covered as a van will be provided for those who have no other way there.

The other problem students can invite anyone they want, Smithson said. Some of the girls are dating older guys (who are 21 or older). "I fear things may go on on the way back we can't control," he said. "I see a lot of red flags and don't like the idea. I can't endorse it (allowing the prom to be held on the Belle)."

Smithson tossed the hot potato to the board for its decision.

Jesse Runyan, the newest member to the panel, said he had heard the Belle was an option but doesn't like it either. He said students should find a place closer to home.

"There's something about a junior/senior prom that makes kids want to drink," Smithson said.

Ledbetter also voiced his opinion against the B