Teen Gets Probation for Nail Clippers

A school board on Tuesday refused to expel a teenage girl for possession of nail clippers with a dull, fold-out knife blade, making an exception to a zero-tolerance policy for weapons.

The Escambia County School Board instead voted, 5 to 0, to place Tawana Dawson, who turns 16 today, on strict probation. She would automatically be expelled for the remainder of the next school year if she has any more disciplinary problems.

The decision disappointed Pensacola High School principal Norm Ross. “I’m not sure we’re ready to arm kids with any more ammo, to bring more items on our campus and make it an unsafe place,” Ross said.

Tawana’s father, Darryl, said the probationary terms were too severe. He said he was worried she would have a bad day or be goaded into something by other students.

Tawana testified at a prior hearing that she thought the 2-inch blade was for cleaning fingernails, not a weapon.