
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 7, 1995                   TAG: 9504070044
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPULSION COUNTY'S 1ST FOR TOTING GUN

The Blacksburg High School student who brought a gun to school was expelled by the Montgomery County School Board this week, making him the first student in the county to be punished for such an action.

Thursday's story on the boy's hearing before the School Board did not make clear the difference between expulsion and suspension. The 17-year-old sophomore was immediately suspended by the principal for 10 days after an unloaded pistol was found in the glove compartment of his car March 20. The School Board heard his case Wednesday night and decided to expel him for 180 school days, until next March.

After the 180 days, he must apply to be readmitted to Montgomery County Schools. In the meantime, he can apply for admission to another school system, but he must disclose the fact that he is not allowed in Montgomery County Schools.

``On behalf of the parents and student in question, [we] acknowledge and support the need of the Montgomery County School Board and administration to [publicize] the `no guns on school grounds' policy,'' wrote attorneys Pete Beller and Helen Spence in a statement Thursday. The two attorneys are representing the student and his parents. ``However, we feel that in this case there are extenuating circumstances which should have been considered; and we are concerned about violence in our schools, and the use or possession of any weapon by any student.''

The boy did not bring the gun into the school, nor did he have any ammunition in or around the car where the weapon was found.

Beller and Spence further wrote that the parents have three options: They can ask the Montgomery County Circuit Court to reinstate their son; they can accept the expulsion and apply for readmission next year; or they can accept the expulsion and enroll their son in a course to get his General Equivalency Diploma.

``We haven't decided our next course of action yet,'' Beller said Thursday.

School Board Chairman Roy Vickers said the unanimous decision Wednesday night enforced ``the policies that are in effect by Montgomery County.''

Citing the Montgomery County student code of conduct, Vickers said, ``It is a goal of this policy to ensure that all students have a sound, nondisruptive educational environment in which to learn.

``The only thing I could possibly add to that would be `It must be safe, too,''' Vickers said.

After July 1, the School Board will have guidance from the state in deciding how to punish students who bring guns to school. A bill passed by the General Assembly and signed this month by Gov. George Allen says any student bringing a gun to school will receive no less than a yearlong expulsion - the same punishment the Blacksburg student received Wednesday.

Criminal charges also are pending against the student, because it is a felony to bring a gun on school grounds. The boy's court hearing, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been moved to May 16 in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

by CNB