COSTA MESA : 3rd-Grader Given Disciplinary Transfer

An 8-year-old who had taken a 13-inch kitchen knife to campus last month was transferred to another school last week by district officials.

The third-grader had been playing with the knife on the playground at Sonora Elementary School in Costa Mesa before school started. The boy attracted a crowd of classmates by throwing a knife blade-first into the ground, similar to the game of mumbletypeg, said district services director Robert Francy.

The knife “was not used in a threatening fashion. He had no intent to commit malice and assault,” Francy said. “He simply violated our district policy. He understands that he did a bad thing.”

Although the district has a tough “zero-tolerance” policy for students who bring weapons to school, the Board of Education did not exercise the full wrath of that expulsion policy on this offender, officials said.

“He is legally expelled, but we have not abandoned this youngster,” Francy said. “We feel it is appropriate for this youngster to receive another chance under guarded conditions.”

Francy said the student is attending another elementary school in the district. He can petition to return to Sonora after the school year ends in June. “I think probably a change of environment sends a strong message to the family and the youngster that the district does not tolerate weapons on campus,” Francy said.

Fourteen students have been expelled so far this year for weapons possession, he said. Last year, nine were expelled.

School officials adopted a so-called “zero tolerance” policy two years ago. That policy, including a definition of what constitutes a weapon, is posted in prominent places in each school. In the district’s four high schools, the policy is posted inside many of the classrooms.

Board member James de Boom said that in response to the increasing number of weapons incidents this year, the Board of Education is considering posting signs in all the elementary classrooms as well.

“It is alarming,” said de Boom. “What are parents and guardians doing if their kid is going to school with a 13-inch knife?”