DENVER -- For Marie Morrow, the equipment left in the back seat of her car was for an upcoming competition. She said she never expected it would lead to her being suspended from school -- or possibly expelled. She left three drill team "practice" rifles in plain view of passing students last week. Morrow, who says she has a 3.5 grade point average, is a member of the Douglas County Young Marines. She said she spins the practice rifles for the organization's drill team.
The mock rifles are made of wood, with duct tape, to resemble a real rifle.
Amole explained the school district's policy mirrors state and federal laws about weapons in schools, and calls for "mandatory expulsion" when possessing a dangerous weapon in any school building. A student conduct handbook states a dangerous weapon includes "a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or a firearm facsimile that could reasonably be mistaken for an actual firearm."
Amole said an expulsion hearing will be held within 10 days of a student suspension. An expulsion officer will make a recommendation to the superintendent, who will rule on the length of expulsion.
Morrow said she her expulsion hearing is Feb. 20. "I'm just hoping I can go back to school and graduate with my class and take my AP tests and all that," she said. |