Students beware! Zero tolerance for school-related violent offenses and possession of illegal items is coming to Suwannee County. That means whether you were aware that you possessed an illegal item is irrelevant. You may be expelled for one year.



Students, don’t give your locker combinations to anyone, including friends, and be careful when you drive to school that there’s nothing left in the vehicle that could get you busted.

The new policy, now being put in place will become part of the discipline code which is passed out to each student at the beginning of each school year. The zero tolerance portion can be found in chapter five of the code and addresses punishment for school-related violent crimes and possession of illegal items.



If a student is found to be in violation of this code, the expulsion limit is mandatory for a minimum of one full year from the student’s regular school. But even more important, the term possession does not require the School Board to determine or reach a finding of fact that the student had actual knowledge that he or she was in possession, control or custody of any item prohibited by the policy. The zero tolerance policy is a requirement for school districts following a recent court decision. That decision brought the burden of proof question to light. “It’s whether the burden of proof is on them or on us,” Superintendent Wyman Harvard said.



School Board attorney Andrew Decker said adoption of the zero tolerance policy will send a clear message that such offenses will not be tolerated.



However, board members did question the ability to exercise discretion. With the adoption of zero tolerance, the board doesn’t have any discretion. It’s a mandatory one year expulsion for the offenses included under the policy.



The district is finalizing the discipline code for final approval and printing. The code will be distributed to students on the first day of school, which is Aug. 8. Parents and students, be sure to take a look at chapter five.