September 25, 2009
A Special Meeting of the High School District No. 1 Board of Trustees was held on September 25, 2009 in the Superintendent’s Office at Choteau High School. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 a.m. by Chairman Kirk Moore.
Members Present: Kirk Moore, Brodie Gollehon, Mark Salmond, Jonathan Stoltz, and Sharon Rice.
Members Absent: Perri Lindgren and Mark Henderson.
Supt. St. John, High School Principal Achenbach, and Clerk Davis were present throughout the meeting.
Visitors: Choteau Acantha Editor Melody Martinsen, Parent Janie Zwerneman with Student Trig Zwerneman.
HEARING TO CONSIDER STUDENT DISCIPLINE ACTION Chairman Kirk Moore announced that the only item on the agenda involves individual privacy. Chairman Moore asked the Zwerneman’s if they wished to waive their right to privacy and hold the hearing regarding student disciplinary action in an open meeting. Mrs. Zwerneman indicated that they wished to waive their right of privacy and hold the hearing in an open meeting.
Supt. St. John informed the Board that on the morning of October 23rd a .22 rifle was discovered in a student’s vehicle in the high school student parking lot during a routine, unannounced search of the school and grounds by Interquest Detection Canines. In accordance with the Gun-Free Schools section of policy 3310 on student discipline, the student was given out of school suspension immediately. This policy states that the Board will expel any student who uses, possesses, controls, or transfers a firearm or any object that can reasonably be considered or looks like a firearm, for a definite period of time of at least one (1) calendar year; but the Board may modify an expulsion period on a case-by-case basis. Since only the Board can expel a student or modify this expulsion period as per state law 20-5-202, MCA, a special meeting was called for the Board to hear this matter and take appropriate action.
Supt. St. John informed the Board that the incident was investigated immediately and the administration believes the student did not know the gun was in the vehicle and it was brought on school grounds purely by accident. Supt. St. John stated that the investigation did not provide any evidence or circumstance that would lead anyone to believe there was any ill intent behind this incident. Supt. St. John informed the Board that the administration believes that the two day out of school suspension is an acceptable level of consequence for what they believe was an innocent lack of judgment and would recommend the Board allow for the immediate reinstatement of the suspended student.
High School Principal Nate Achenbach spoke on behalf of the student, Trig Zwerneman, stating that he followed district policy regarding this matter and at no time did he feel there was malice or intent behind this incident. None the less, he did not want to excuse what is a very serious matter and spoke at length with the student about how this inadvertent mistake could have turned into a very dangerous situation.
High School Principal Achenbach informed the Board that when the drug dog searches of the campus were initiated five years ago, it was just such an incident that he was concerned with. High School Principal Achenbach noted that we live in a rural community, where hunting is an integral part of our culture, and it would be very easy to forget to remove a gun from a vehicle after hunting gophers or other game after school or on the weekends. High School Principal Achenbach noted that he is surprised this is the first hit on a gun in the five years that these searches have been conducted and it has proven to be a “wake up call” that students, parents, and the community need to be reminded often about the school’s gun-free policy and the consequences for violating it.
The Board asked further questions of the administration about this incident, discussed the disciplinary action served and the administrative recommendation. A motion was made by Mark Salmond, seconded by Jonathan Stoltz and unanimously carried (2 absent) to follow policy 3310 and state law 20-5-202, MCA that allows the Board to modify the one year expulsion period for violating the gun-free school policy and accept the two day out of school suspension already served as the disciplinary action, thereby immediately reinstating Trig Zwerneman to attend school and participate in all activities as of 8:15 a.m., September 25, 2009.
Parent Janie Zwerneman thanked the administration and the Board for how this situation was handled and all that was done for her family. Mrs. Zwerneman did want everyone to know that the vehicle involved is not her son’s personal vehicle so he was totally unaware that the gun was in the vehicle. Mrs. Zwerneman noted that they requested to hold the hearing in an open session in part to make the community aware of this situation and hopefully help other students and families from making the same mistake.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 a.m.
ATTEST: ______________________ CLERK ______________________ CHAIRMAN