The Mississippi Youth Justice Project filed a lawsuit today against the Hinds County School District, alleging that the district unlawfully targeted a student for expulsion. The student, identified in the complaint only by his initials, A.H., was a freshman at Terry High School. District officials suspended, then expelled and placed him in an alternative school for his involvement in what the lawsuit calls a "coin-tossing game" on a school bus.
The lawsuit, filed in Hinds County Chancery Court, says that the district failed to follow its own rules in punishing the student.
"The Hinds County School District has inexplicably cut short the life chances of this young man for tossing a penny on a school bus," lead attorney and MYJP director Courtney Bowie said in a statement. "The district's determination to throw this young man away into the alternative school was reflected throughout the disciplinary process, during which the district repeatedly violated its own rules."
The lawsuit also alleges that A.H. is receiving a sub-standard education at the Hinds County alternative school and that he must teach himself some core subjects.
"Mississippi's school districts must commit to school discipline practices that build on the strengths of our students and support their educational attainment—instead of pushing children out of school for minor infractions," Bowie said. "As this case illustrates, if Mississippi continuously fails to embrace school-discipline reform, all efforts to reduce the drop-out rate will fail."
In response to the law suit, the Hinds County School District responded with the follow press release:
It is the policy of the Hinds County School District not to comment on pending or potential litigation.
However, it is important to make clear the district's position in regards to some of the false statements and allegations made by the Mississippi Youth Justice Project in their press release earlier today.
First, all disciplinary actions are based upon board policy with the intent of maintaining a safe and orderly learning environment for all students.
Students who attend the Main Street Restart Center in Hinds County receive a quality education and are taught by fully certified and highly qualified teachers.
Superintendent Dr. Stephen Handley commented: "We routinely have parents comment on the extremely positive experiences their children have at the Main Street Restart Center. One mother recently shared how sorry she was that her son would be leaving Main Street because of the positive turn around he experienced with his grades and his behavior."
Students at the Main Street Restart Center are afforded the opportunity to continue their education in a small more individualized setting where they generally have much more success than in a traditional classroom with 25-30 students.
Recognizing the importance of providing a safe and high quality education to all students even when they make inappropriate choices, the Hinds County Schools will continue to maintain its high standards in both academics and student behavior.
(Updated December 14, 2009 to include the Hinds County School District response)
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