Russell and Brandie Lepley are the parents of a student expelled from the Blaine County School District system.
By RUSSELL & BRANDIE LEPLEY
Our journey began in mid-January when our son was in the eighth grade. On that fateful evening we rushed him to the Wood River Medical Center ER. He had been taking over-the-counter cold medication in large doses provided by another student who had previously been hospitalized for the same thing.
Our responsibility extended beyond our own child and into the community. We informed the Hailey Police Department of what had taken place and requested they approach the school, hoping to prevent another child from spiraling down the rabbit hole. Our son was immediately suspended pending an expulsion hearing.
At the hearing we outlined all the steps we were taking to help our son and referenced district policy 507.3. We felt strongly that we had voluntarily disclosed information on behalf of our child, while he was hospitalized, to support other parents, the administration and the community. We were told their (the school board's) interpretation was only if "the student" came forward. They nullified our ability to act on his behalf. He was expelled for one year.
The one-year time frame could be mitigated to one trimester by completing a list of requirements, two of them being a credit each in mathematics and English. Since the district had no alternative program for a youth of his grade level, he took a ninth-grade online math course and we paid a bit over $1,200 for an English tutor referred by the district office. This seems to rival college tuition let alone a credit for eighth-grade English.
He was allowed back in school under a behavioral contract the beginning of his freshman year. About one month later he participated in a consensual fight after which he and his opponent shook hands afterwards. As a result, he has been expelled for yet another year, only this time with no option of early return. The other three boys received three- to five-day suspensions. We're not here to defend or excuse our son's actions. We've consistently expressed values, propriety and the Golden Rule. It's not always easy to convince children to adopt our own philosophies.
Our son does 15-20 hours of volunteer work per week, works out at a local gym, attends guitar lessons, is enrolled in the online school, and is learning how to snowboard. He has been and remains drug-free. What concerns us is the lack of access to a proper education and contrary to what the board clerk stated as to what's the last thing the school board wants to do is exactly where they struck fast and first in our case.
If you look outside of our valley, you'll find alternative programs, charter schools and case managers assigned to guide families through periods of expulsion. I find it hard to believe that in our valley of plenty, there is little to no help for kids who have strayed. Had we never come forward in the first place, he would have experienced the typical punishment for fighting and would've never been expelled either time. And if you believe the percentage of expulsions is an indicator of effective community policy, ask your child how many other kids they know of who smoke, drink and do drugs.
