From Valleynewslive · · 1m 20s
Suspended over a cup of coffee
A senior got an in-school suspension on day one, then found the rule behind it was never properly announced.
In brief
A senior got an in-school suspension on day one, then found the rule behind it was never properly announced. A rule is only as solid as the process that created it, and one student reading the fine print was enough to force a redo. Originally reported by Valleynewslive.
Day one, coffee in hand
Julie Kaputa walked into her first period class at Beaver River Central School in Beaver Falls, New York, carrying a cup of coffee. Her senior year opened with an ultimatum.
“I walked in, I had my coffee with me.”
Drink it or leave
Her teacher gave her three options: dump the coffee, finish it on the spot, or report to the office.
“I'm either going to need you to dump that out or consume it on the spot or go down to the office”
An in-school suspension
Kaputa got an in-school suspension for breaking the district's new outside food and drink rule, added to this year's code of conduct.
The missing public hearing
Kaputa and her mother read the code and noticed it required a public hearing first. They went looking for one and could not find any record that it happened.
“There was no public hearing to discuss it.”
The district concedes
Superintendent Todd Green said August's monthly board meeting counted as the hearing, but after talking with Kaputa he agreed it was never properly announced.
“It's good to see students standing up for what they believe in.”
A do-over on Sept. 14
A new public hearing is set for Sept. 14. Kaputa says she isn't angry, the suspension stays off her permanent record, and she just wants the process followed.
The key point
A rule is only as solid as the process that created it, and one student reading the fine print was enough to force a redo.
