Burbank School Board Softens Youth’s Punishment

A 17-year-old Burbank High School baseball player who faced expulsion after being caught with a martial arts weapon on school grounds last month will be allowed to enroll at John Burroughs High School, the district superintendent said Friday.

The school board voted unanimously after a five-hour hearing Thursday to expel the student, but only from March 8--when he was caught--until Friday, district Supt. Arthur Pierce said.

Pierce said Kristopher Wynne, a senior, was carrying a set of nunchakus in his backpack. Wynne will begin classes at his new school Monday, Pierce said.

“Justice tempered with mercy, what can I say,” board member William S. Abbey said. Abbey said returning the student back to Burbank High would “send the wrong message.”

Until the incident, the student had no discipline problems at the school, Abbey said. The student said he brought the nunchukas to school because he had been threatened by students he thought might be gang members.

Abbey said Wynne did not know how to use the weapon.

The student will be banned from Burbank High property from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, but will be able to attend special school functions such as the senior prom, awards ceremonies and graduation, Pierce said.