State board upholds expulsion for drugs at school

DES MOINES -- The State Board of Education on Thursday upheld the Oelwein Community School District's decision to expel a ninth-grade student for bringing marijuana to school to sell it.

Mother Denise Wilson had appealed the school district's expulsion of her son, Cameron, for the rest of the 2009-2010 school year.

According to a document in the case, Cameron admitted to bringing marijuana to school. A second unnamed student whom he asked to help him received a less harsh punishment, and was only expelled for the rest of the first semester. The document said that the sale of marijuana to a third student never occurred.

The state board of education voted to affirm the district's decision without discussion.

Administrative Law Judge Carol Greta said other cases have established it is not unreasonable for a school board to expel a student for the school year if they commit this type of conduct. She recommended the board uphold the decision of the district.

“Confronted by an insidious societal problem, mindful of their duty to provide a safe environment in which all students can learn, the elected members of the Oelwein Community School District Board did not act unreasonably when they voted to expel Cameron for the remainder of the school year,” Greta wrote in her recommendation to the state board.

Greta noted the school district took the extraordinary step of providing a teacher to continue working with him, so than next year when he is a sophomore, he can restart with his class and not fall behind.

Greta said the onus is on the parent or guardian to make sure that the student continues to be educated, not on the school district.

“Kudos to the Oelwein school district for recognizing that they still want to be a part of this young man's life and to make sure that he stays up to speed so that he can rejoin his class in the fall and be successful,” Greta said.