Suspension of Student Is Rescinded

The Burbank Unified School District has rescinded the suspension of a Burbank High School student who was sent home for wearing a sweat shirt that school officials thought carried a gang message.

Monica Marquez, 15, was informed that her record was cleared in a letter from Supt. Arthur Pierce.

“After a review of all the circumstances concerning the suspension,” said the letter, mailed Wednesday, “I have ordered that the suspension of two days be reversed. All record of Monica’s suspension will be expunged from her files. She will be treated as if no suspension occurred.”

Monica was suspended Dec. 19 for wearing a sweat shirt with Old English lettering that read, “In Memory of Kenny Caldera, in Christ’s Hands Now.” She was sent home after she refused to turn the sweat shirt inside out.

Caldera was a former Burbank High School football player who was killed in August in a drive-by shooting in Panorama City. Police said Caldera may have been mistaken for a gang member.

School officials objected to the lettering style on the sweat shirt, which is similar to the style used in some gang writing. But supporters of the girl said the message was anti-gang.

The suspension had prompted a protest from the American Civil Liberties Union, which complained that the district’s dress policy violated First Amendment protections of free speech.

Pierce refused to discuss the details of the incident, citing student confidentiality. There is a district policy against gang clothing, but Pierce said the policy does not define Old English script as a gang writing style.

“I regret that the suspension occurred under all the circumstances, but the administrators of Burbank High were motivated by concerns over the continued safety of Monica and other students,” said the letter from Pierce.

Pierce said no disciplinary action was taken against school officials over the incident.