BOISE, Idaho — There is a bill going through the Idaho legislature that could change a school expulsion requirement. Under current state law, if a child brings a knife to school, they will be expelled and that expulsion stays on the student's record forever.
During testimony, an eastern Idaho superintendent explained how a student wore a coat he had not used since a summer camping trip. When the student realized there was a pocket knife in it, he did the right thing and turned the knife in to the school resource officer.
Under state law, the superintendent had no choice but to expel the boy. Our media partner, Idaho Education News, says both the State Department of Education and the Idaho School Boards Association back the bill. They say it allows local school districts to exercise some latitude.
Bringing a firearm to school would still be an automatic expulsion. Senate Bill 1116 now heads to the Senate floor for possible amendments.
