Harding senior who was expelled to return to school

By Tim Yovich

The senior can graduate this year if she passes two courses in English and science.

WARREN — A Warren G. Harding High School student who was expelled, leading a ministerial alliance to question the school district’s zero-tolerance policy for fighting, will return to school May 1, the group spokesman says.

The Rev. Alton Merrell Sr. said Thursday that senior Kayla Sparks’ expulsion has been amended. Originally she was suspended from March 5 to June 4. The May 1 date will allow her to graduate this year if she passes English and science classes.

Superintendent Kathryn Hellweg declined to comment.

Earlier in the day, however, Hellweg said the community is receiving false information that all students caught fighting in school are automatically expelled. “Our goal is to not kick kids out of school,” she said.

Her comments came as the group of ministers were seeking Sparks’ return so she could graduate. The ministers have maintained she was defending herself when attacked by two female students. Sparks had appealed the expulsion.

Hellweg explained that there have been 266 pre-expulsion conferences districtwide this year for infractions that could result in expulsion. The pre-expulsion hearings are a “wake up call” to students and parents that if misconduct continues, expulsion will be recommended to her by the staff. The majority of cases, she noted, have been successful because students have changed their behavior.

She also said there have been 302 mediations at the high school this year, where students were able to talk out their differences rather than fight. Of that number, four students decided to fight.

“The mediations have been extremely successful,” Hellweg said.

The Rev. Frank L. Hearns, pastor of the Second Baptist Church and a leader of the ministerial group, said he doesn’t doubt that the district expelled Sparks by using the correct method. “We’re not saying that they haven’t followed the procedures correctly. In this case, it was abrupt,” he said.

Hellweg said she wanted to make her points because of “myths” the Sparks case has generated.

For example, one myth is that assaults and fighting are treated the same way; another is that the district’s zero-tolerance policy is new.

She explained that if students are defending themselves, it’s not the district’s practice to kick them out of school.

The Rev. Mr. Hearns commented that the misinformation is not being generated by the ministers.

The Rev. Mr. Merrell agreed, saying that Hellweg and the board of education are responsible for any misinformation because they wouldn’t discuss the policy with the ministers.

Zero-tolerance was instituted in the district during the 1999-2000 school year, but it hadn’t been enforced consistently, the superintendent explained.

In her first year as superintendent during the 2005-06 school year, Hellweg said, there were about 15 fights a week at the high school. Administrators as well as students were injured breaking them up, parents were taking their children out of school, and there was an unsafe environment at Harding that wasn’t conducive to learning.

Nearly all students who fight will be suspended, Hellweg said.

The ministers have said they aren’t against disciplining students, but expulsion must be a last resort.

Another myth, Hellweg said, is that students can’t graduate once expelled. She said students who return to school can receive extra credits and attend summer school to graduate.

There is also an appeals process, Hellweg said, noting expulsions can be appealed to the school board and then to common pleas court.

Mr. Merrell said the appeals process is flawed because the attorney hearing such cases is paid by the board, rather than having a third party make the recommendation to the superintendent.

yovich@vindy.com