Katy graffiti case may prompt revisions in law
Jul 20, 2007 1:18 PM
A Katy, Texas, sixth-grader who was ordered to attend alternative
school for four months for writing "I love Alex" on a gymnasium wall
may prompt lawmakers to give administrators more leeway in how they punish
students. State Rep. Rob Eissler says the legislature did not accomplish what it
set out to do in 2005 when it passed a law that gives school districts leeway
when meting out discipline. When lawmakers reconvene in 2009, Eissler says
lawmakers should tighten up the language to specify that administrators deciding
punishment must consider a student's intent, disciplinary history and whether
the student has a judgment-impairing disability or acted in self-defense.
Click
here to read The Houston Chronicle article.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PUNISHMENT AND THE DISTRICT'S DECISION TO RECONSIDER? Click here to comment.
EARLIER: Katy (Texas) Superintendent Alton Frailey says a sixth grader will not
have to attend four months in an alternative school for writing "I love
Alex" on a gymnasium wall with a Sharpie. Instead, the parents and the
school's principal will discuss reasonable discipline options for the offense
that will not include out of school suspension or placement in an alternative
school. The punishment given to Shelby Sendelbach, a student at Mayde Creek
Junior High, sparked outrage and widespread criticism that it was too harsh.
Click
here to read The Houston Chronicle article.
A school watchdog group is calling for the Katy (Texas) Independent School
District to immediately begin an examination of its discipline policy after
a sixth-grader was ordered to attend alternative school for four months for
writing "I love Alex" on a gymnasium wall. District officials said
earlier this week they are reconsidering the punishment and examining what
discipline options the district has under state law and local policy.
Click
here to read The Houston Chronicle article.
The Katy (Texas) Independent School District is reconsidering a
decision to send a sixth-grader to alternative school for four months after she
confessed to writing "I love Alex" on a school gymnasium wall with a
Sharpie. Under a firestorm of criticism, the district is researching discipline
options for Shelby Sendelbach, a 12-year-old Mayde Creek Junior High School
pupil who was punished by the district with a Level 4 infraction. The graffiti
offense—on par with making terroristic threats, drug possession and
assault—is punishable as a felony under the district's discipline plan. Only a
Level 5 is more severe—for murder, possessing firearms, aggravated or sexual
assault and arson.
Click
here to read The Houston Chronicle article.
A sixth-grader who wrote "I love Alex" on a gymnasium wall in the
Katy (Texas) Independent School District will have to attend four months at an
alternative campus; school officials are treating the infraction with the same
severity as making terroristic threats. Written with a baby blue marker, the
graffiti by Shelby Sendelbach, 12, is considered a Level 4 infraction — also
the same level for drug possession and assault. Her parents believe the
punishment is too harsh and are appealing.
Click
here to read The Houston Chronicle article.
