Panel Backs Suspending 2nd-Grader for Toy Gun

Los Angeles Unified School District officials affirmed a Tarzana Elementary School administrator’s decision to suspend a second-grader for taking a small toy gun to school, rejecting a request by the boy’s mother to expunge the suspension from her son’s permanent school record.

Sabina Gonzales, 35, an executive secretary who received a faxed letter from the district Tuesday, appealed the one-day suspension on grounds that the Nov. 1 incident could jeopardize her son’s chances for enrollment in an academic honors program or future college scholarships.

“I want the school district to expunge it from his records,” Gonzales said Wednesday. “I want the principal to say that she made a mistake and overreacted to a situation that did not call for a suspension.”

Gonzales’ son, Michael Rodriguez, 7, was found to have violated the California Education Code, which prohibits the possession of an imitation firearm on campus.

Gonzales presented her case Friday to a district administrator and two principals at a closed meeting in Van Nuys.

In its written response, obtained by The Times, the committee said that it would change the reason for Michael’s suspension, but stopped short of removing the offense from his record.

“The committee has decided to change the reason for the suspension . . . from ‘knife/explosive/dangerous object--Michael brought a toy gun to school’ to ‘disruption/willful defiance--Michael brought an inappropriate toy to school,’ ” wrote Sue A. Spears, director of operations and student support services for District C and an appeals committee member.

Therefore, the reference to a weapon would be removed from his permanent school records, Spears wrote.

Due process allows Gonzales to appeal the committee’s decision to District C Schools Supt. Robert Collins, Spears wrote.