CATLIN — The Catlin School Board dealt with tough issues and a large crowd Thursday as its members considered the expulsion of a student and heard allegations against a staff member.

Board members conducted a disciplinary hearing preceding their regular meeting to consider the expulsion of a student who pulled a serious prank on another classmate more than a week ago. The student had not been allowed back to school since.

The Commercial-News chooses not to identify the student at this time, even though the discussion was conducted in public session, because the newspaper does not identify other students expelled.

A packed room of supporters stood for the student, whose mother said has never been in trouble and is a good boy and athlete. All took their turns claiming support for the high school senior.

She said while she felt her son was absolutely wrong and should be punished, the prank was not done with malicious intent.

Board members felt the severity of the offense was enough to garner expulsion from school until June 2, which will prevent him from walking through his graduation ceremony, but he will still have enough credits to get his diploma.

Four board members voted in favor of the expulsion, two abstained and one voted against it.

However, the mother of the expelled student claims the punishment is out-of-line considering the offense, which was considered in the policy handbook under gross misconduct.

Instead, she felt the punishment handed down to her son was a reflection of a recent series of events regarding her freshman daughter. She said her daughter had made earlier allegations against a staff member for misconduct. Allegations she feels have not been thoroughly examined.

Superintendent Guy Banicki said he and Catlin High School Principal Kevin Thomas have already conducted an internal investigation of the allegations about potential misconduct by the staff member and would be presenting the information to the board during executive session later in the Thursday meeting.

“Mr. Thomas and I will review the allegations with the board and we will go from there,” Banicki said.

Banicki said the expulsion handed down to the senior student was in no way related to the other event. Also, he said board members were not even yet made aware of the potential misconduct situation until after the disciplinary hearing.

However, the mother of the expelled student said she feels board members had their decision made before the hearing occurred.

In other business, board members:

-- Heard that officials are looking into getting a new security camera system for the doors at the Catlin Grade School.

The system would allow a secretary to see visitors at the front door who could be buzzed into the entrance. All other doors into the building would be secured by a magnetic system and the main computer, which could be put on a schedule and unlocked with employee strike tags.

The district building committee will meet before the June meeting to discuss which system to purchase, securing between two and all six doors, along with the main entrance camera. The cost will range from $5,755 to $13,500 and a decision will be made next month.

-- Approved high school handbook changes, which includes taking out the first, second and third offense system. Now the descriptions will just be detailed as general guidelines for administrators to use discretion depending on the offense.

-- Heard kindergarten enrollment is about the same as last year, currently at 33 students for the 2009-10 year.

What’s Next

The Catlin School Board meets at 7 p.m. June 11 at the superintendent’s office.