FULLERTON : School District Expels 5 Students

Five students in the Fullerton School District have been expelled following a threat of violence and two incidents involving weapons at district schools, Supt. Duncan Johnson said Wednesday.

“One (incident) involved bringing a gun on campus, one involved bringing a stun gun on the campus, and . . . the third incident was attempting to cause or threatening to cause physical harm,” Johnson said.

The three episodes occurred independently over a three-day period, he said.

Johnson said state regulations prevent him from revealing the names of the students, their schools, when the incidents took place or how the students were involved in the incidents.

The school board expelled the students during closed hearings March 5 and 6, attended by the students and their parents.

“I hope it sends a message that we don’t allow that type of behavior on campus,” Johnson said.

Three of the students were expelled for the rest of this year and next fall’s semester, and two were expelled for the rest of this school year.

A sixth student involved in one of the incidents was expelled, but the school board decided to suspend the expulsion and allow the student to return to school. Johnson would not explain the circumstance of this student.

Johnson said he will be working with the students and parents to find alternate education programs for the students while they are expelled.

The school district has had only one other expulsion in the past 10 years, Johnson said.