Student Accused Of Bringing Knife To West Aurora Expelled

AURORA, IL — A West Aurora School District 129 student has been expelled for bringing a knife to school and threatening another student with it. According to minutes from an Oct. 23 special school board meeting, the incident took place Oct. 11 at an undisclosed school. The following week, the school board was presented with evidence in a closed hearing, and determined that the student "committed acts of gross misconduct."

The district's administration did attempt other behavioral and disciplinary interventions before the expulsion, like referral, detention, parent calls, peer mediation, individual incentives for positive behavior and more, but decided there were no other appropriate actions left. The minutes say that removing the student from the learning environment is in the best interest of the school, and that his behavior involving threats made to a fellow student and possession of a weapon on school grounds interferes with the school's operations.

The minutes indicate that after an initial incident was addressed, defused, and parties involved were given a conflict prevention plan moving forward, the student made a threat toward another student, and multiple peers were aware of the knife. The district's Director of Community Affairs Tony Martinez says no more information will be given at this time in order to protect the student's privacy.

The board voted five to one Oct. 23 to expel student No. 3013974, as he is referred in the minutes, for the remainder of the school year. One board member was absent. The dissenting vote belonged to Christopher Sparks. Board member Amie Thompson was absent.

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