# 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.
- Title: Suspended over a cup of coffee · Valleynewslive | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: schools, student rights, open meetings, new york, transparency, news, local, Suspended, cup, coffee, Valleynewslive
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/12/high-school-student-suspended-after-bringing-cup-coffee-first-day-school
- Published: 2026-09-12T14:16:29.416+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: schools, student rights, open meetings, new york, transparency, news, local
## 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.
## Key takeaway

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.