<p>A three day suspension? Dear God, what is wrong with this school system? Shame on them. Some years ago there was a major cheating scandal in our school district - the perpetrators, hs seniors, were initially charged with felonies and were permanently suspended from school. The reason they weren’t expelled, parents were told, was because expulsion required physical violence. (Please don’t ask me what the difference between permanent suspension and expulsion is - apparently there’s gotta be one.)</p>
<p>How can the serious acts these boys committed be punished with “conferencing” following a 3-day suspension? I’m usually a bit skeptical when people cry “preferential treatment,” but that is in blazing full view here. If the perpetrators’ parents are indeed taking advantage of their prestige in the community to shield their sons from the full consequences of their actions, they should be shunned. If the father of one is indeed a New York state senator, as has been hinted in various news sources, I’d like to know which one. How many more people will these boys hurt because their parents have taught them that they don’t need to take the consequences of their actions?</p>
<p>sk8termom, how is the local community reacting? Will district residents mount a challenge - ask the board or superintendent for more appropriate punishment or at least an investigation of school policies?</p>