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Board expels five students

JANESVILLE — Five students accused of fighting with or assaulting other students were expelled by the Janesville School Board on Tuesday.

One high school student was accused of hitting another student with a sock containing a pool ball. The board expelled that student through his or her 21st birthday.

The school district does not release the gender or age of expelled students nor the school in which the offenses took place. However, Janesville police reported that a 15-year-old girl was referred to juvenile authorities Feb. 27 on a charge of felony battery in an incident involving a cue ball inside a sock.

Another 15-year-old girl was listed as the victim in the cue ball incident.

Director of Student Services Karen Schulte said the expelled student struck the victim once in the back, making a large bruise, and was about to strike the victim’s head when a teacher intervened.

The potential for grave injury was a major reason the student was given the maximum expulsion, Schulte said.

Several other high school students were expelled after being accused of participating in a fight.

Janesville police reports describe a fight in a Parker hallway Feb. 26 in which some participants accused others of using gang signs.

Police reports indicate at least four students were to be expelled in the Feb. 26 incident. One of those students was expelled in March.

The fight lasted less than a minute and involved pushing and punching, reports indicate. Teachers intervened, and at least one teacher was shoved by a student, perhaps accidentally, reports indicate. Another teacher was struck on the top of the head, but that apparently was not a serious blow.

Of the three students expelled Tuesday for fighting, two were expelled through their 21st birthdays. Schulte said that in some cases, the students are being expelled for the second time, which is why they got the maximum sentence.

The third student in the fight was expelled through summer school 2010 but could earn early reinstatement starting in September 2008 after an anger-management assessment, counseling and other requirements.

The board also expelled a high school student who was accused of “battering another student.” That student also was expelled through his or her 21st birthday.

Other expulsions

Other students expelled by the Janesville School Board on Tuesday:

-- A high school student accused of threatening to harm students and staff, expelled through the end of the 2008-09 school year. He or she could earn early reinstatement by continuing with counseling, completing an alcohol/drug abuse class and enrolling in the district’s Truancy Abatement and Transitional Education program, known as TATE.

Director of Student Services Karen Schulte said this student was under the influence of drugs when he or she threatened to kill others and their families.

-- A high school student accused of possessing a knife on school grounds, expelled through the end of this school year.

-- A high school student accused of possessing marijuana on school grounds with intent to deliver and bringing a knife to school, expelled through his or her 21st birthday.

-- A high school student accused of possessing alcohol on school grounds, expelled through the end of the 2008-09 school year. He or she could apply to return in September 2008 after completing and alcohol/drug assessment and any recommended treatment and educational programming.

-- Three middle-school students, all accused of repeatedly breaking school rules. One was expelled through the end of this school year. Another was expelled through the end of the 2008-09 school year but could apply to return as early as summer school 2008 if he or she continues with counseling.

The third middle-schooler was expelled through the first semester of 2008-09 but could earn early reinstatement if he or she continues with counseling and attends TATE.

This brings to 34 the number of expulsions this school year, the same number of expulsions at this time in 2006-07.

Schulte said the board had skipped a meeting of reviewing expulsions, and therefore the large number accumulated.