Topic: Overreach?
started by: Glad I Left
Posted by Glad I Left on Apr. 25 2014,10:44 am
Really? Are you F'ing kidding me?< Complete BS >
Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Apr. 25 2014,11:01 am
Zero-Tolerance has gotten utterly ridiculous the last couple of years. It's pretty sad.This will follow her even though she is an exemplary student.
Posted by MADDOG on Apr. 25 2014,11:04 am
You're not alone. Your topic title should be more likeBOYCOTT USC or something similar. Trouble is that it likely wouldn't have mattered the school.
superintendnut is jjensen@usc.k12.mn.us
school board
2014 United South Central School Board Officers
Chair: Kathy Krebsbach 294-3311 kkrebsbach@usc.k12.mn.us
Vice Chair: Jon Feist 304-0093 jfeist@usc.k12.mn.us
Treasurer: Mike Schrader 380-4930 mschrader@usc.k12.mn.us
Clerk: Sharon Parriott 553-5551 sparriott@usc.k12.mn.us
Director: Steve Navara 553-5774 srnavara@usc.k12.mn.us
Director: Dale Stevermer 340-6478 dstevermer@usc.k12.mn.us
Posted by Self-Banished on Apr. 25 2014,11:05 am
Wow, what bunch of A-holes,I should think that life in Wells should become difficult for members of the school board, also the superintendent.
Posted by MADDOG on Apr. 25 2014,11:12 am
(Self-Banished @ Apr. 25 2014,11:05 am)
QUOTE
Wow, what bunch of A-holes,
I should think that life in Wells should become difficult for members of the school board, also the superintendent.
I should think that life in Wells should become difficult for members of the school board, also the superintendent.
look up.
Posted by This is my real name on Apr. 25 2014,11:17 am
I hope USC voters vote out every one of those clowns in the next election. In the meantime, I hope that community lets every one of them know on a daily basis what a foolish, knee-jerk decision they made.I don't live in Wells or know any of these people, so there isn't anything I can do that would affect them. I do hope their neighbors and former friends take action, though—perhaps even to the point where they decide it would be better for them to move away.
Good grief.
Posted by Moparman on Apr. 25 2014,3:07 pm
Nice life lesson! Work hard, have an exemplary record both in school and in the community, by all accounts a kid who any parent would be proud of. All tarnished because of a few PC bureaucrats with zero common sense. This decision did far more damage than any "weapon" could ever do. This had nothing to do with student safety and everything to do with huge egos on a power trip!
I hope the citizens of USC remember this come election time.
Posted by grassman on Apr. 25 2014,3:27 pm
Here's their sign. What next, no pencils, too dangerous.
Posted by Glad I Left on Apr. 26 2014,8:43 am
What's more is that it was a UNANIMOUS board decision. Really? Not one of them idiots stopped and thought about it for a minute?Then the coward superintendent wouldn't do an on camera interview for KEYC. I suppose it was wise since I believe the family is retaining a lawyer, the whole thing just pisses me off.
We care about the kids.... Yeah right. Go F yourself.
Posted by This is my real name on Apr. 26 2014,6:00 pm
(Glad I Left @ Apr. 26 2014,8:43 am)
QUOTE
What's more is that it was a UNANIMOUS board decision. Really? Not one of them idiots stopped and thought about it for a minute?
Then the coward superintendent wouldn't do an on camera interview for KEYC. I suppose it was wise since I believe the family is retaining a lawyer, the whole thing just pisses me off.
We care about the kids... Yeah right. Go F yourself.
Then the coward superintendent wouldn't do an on camera interview for KEYC. I suppose it was wise since I believe the family is retaining a lawyer, the whole thing just pisses me off.
We care about the kids... Yeah right. Go F yourself.
More like, "We care about protecting our own, so we're joining in solidarity, and then circling our wagons and keeping our mouths shut... but you can bet it will be about the children the next time we want more money."
Posted by Glad I Left on Apr. 28 2014,9:36 am
I understand the concern when it was first found. I get it. You take her out that day and find out what is going on. Better to be safe than sorry. You do your investigation. You find nothing ill willed. You punish her for violating policy, but you don't EXCESSIVELY punish her by suspending her for the rest of the year. That is the over reach IMO. This administration should be replaced for complete incompetence.
Posted by MADDOG on Apr. 30 2014,10:08 am
I thought there would have been just a tad bit more outrage over the "excessive" punishment from both sides of the political spectrum. She has been barred from her senior prom, banished from classes the rest of the year and had her high school transcripts screwed for college. She plays school sports, is an honor student and works part time in the community.
That community should be pounding the pavement every single day in front of that school. I'd like to see parents and her fellow students who were threatened by the school if they participated in demonstrations to protest.
Where are the libbies on this one? chirp. chirp.
Posted by grassman on Apr. 30 2014,10:24 am
One thing for sure, I will not step foot in Wells ever again! I will go to Bakersfield by way of Omaha!
Posted by MADDOG on Apr. 30 2014,12:01 pm
(grassman @ Apr. 30 2014,10:24 am)
QUOTE
One thing for sure, I will not step foot in Wells ever again! I will go to Bakersfield by way of Omaha!
Agreed, G-man. First thought is that seems awful harsh to punish the whole town for the actions of a few, but it is the entire towns' fault for not taking a stand against this idiocy.
Posted by irisheyes on May 01 2014,10:50 am
I'd agree it was excessive punishment, but "excessive punishment" is pretty subjective, isn't it? What punishment would you impose for bringing a 3-inch knife to school? 
The story says she was facing expulsion up to one year, they expelled for the rest of the school year. Well, it's mid-April...
Zero tolerance policies are bothersome when they impact good kids, but so are double standards. I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV. Does that bother anyone else, or just me?
Posted by Grinning_Dragon on May 01 2014,12:51 pm
(irisheyes @ May 01 2014,10:50 am)
QUOTE
I'd agree it was excessive punishment, but "excessive punishment" is pretty subjective, isn't it? What punishment would you impose for bringing a 3-inch knife to school?
The story says she was facing expulsion up to one year, they expelled for the rest of the school year. Well, it's mid-April...
Zero tolerance policies are bothersome when they impact good kids, but so are double standards. I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV. Does that bother anyone else, or just me?
The story says she was facing expulsion up to one year, they expelled for the rest of the school year. Well, it's mid-April...
Zero tolerance policies are bothersome when they impact good kids, but so are double standards. I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV. Does that bother anyone else, or just me?
How about just getting rid of the damn zero
QUOTE
What punishment would you impose for bringing a 3-inch knife to school?[/b]
NONE. No punishment required nor needed.
Posted by MADDOG on May 01 2014,1:03 pm
QUOTE
What punishment would you impose for bringing a 3-inch knife to school?
I don't know? In this case-none. QUOTE
I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV.
You can't guarantee that. First of all, I'd like to believe that income status bears no more difference than the color of her skin should have. That knife is no more a weapon than a can of beans until it's turned into one.I carried a pocket knife all through school from roughly 6th grade on. So did quite a few classmates. I carry one still. Be golly, forty years of carrying and mine has never turned into a weapon.
Posted by irisheyes on May 01 2014,1:15 pm
QUOTE
NONE. No punishment required nor needed.
When kids (er, most kids) are caught with a weapon the parents will fear the worst. If you know any teachers you'll hear this plenty. Parents worry about their kids getting hurt so they call, email, or go to the school officials and the police when these things happen. There's a reason policies get written.
So they should be allowed to have a weapon if they claim they forgot the knife for three days and then "take responsibility" after they're caught with it?
Posted by MADDOG on May 01 2014,1:57 pm
QUOTE
When kids (er, most kids) are caught with a weapon
First off, what is your definition of a weapon?
Posted by This is my real name on May 01 2014,2:08 pm
Do you know what the best solution is for this?It's for EVERY student enrolled at USC to bring a similar pocketknife to school, and then for someone to call the police and report that one student has drugs in his/her locker. They will find pocketknives in every locker, and have to expel the entire school in order to comply with policy.
Of course, in doing so, they will lose all of their funding as their enrollment will be zero - but they can't selectively apply the rules, so they'd have to do it - or readmit Drescher.
Posted by MADDOG on May 01 2014,2:20 pm
No, this is something the parents of the community have to handle. They need to pull their kids out of school until the school board resigns. At the end of the year, they pull the pull on the super.
Posted by This is my real name on May 01 2014,3:56 pm
(MADDOG @ May 01 2014,2:20 pm)
QUOTE
No, this is something the parents of the community have to handle. They need to pull their kids out of school until the school board resigns. At the end of the year, they pull the pull on the super.
It's a shame that they aren't doing something like that. How many of them disagree with what happened, but feel that it isn't their problem?
Posted by Self-Banished on May 01 2014,6:25 pm
(irisheyes @ May 01 2014,10:50 am)
QUOTE
I'd agree it was excessive punishment, but "excessive punishment" is pretty subjective, isn't it? What punishment would you impose for bringing a 3-inch knife to school?
The story says she was facing expulsion up to one year, they expelled for the rest of the school year. Well, it's mid-April...
Zero tolerance policies are bothersome when they impact good kids, but so are double standards. I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV. Does that bother anyone else, or just me?
The story says she was facing expulsion up to one year, they expelled for the rest of the school year. Well, it's mid-April...
Zero tolerance policies are bothersome when they impact good kids, but so are double standards. I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV. Does that bother anyone else, or just me?
Subjective? How about we just call it what it is, lack of judgement, plain and simple.
You seem upset with the three inch knife, there are probably more dangerous articles in the schools shop you pillow-biting progressive.
All the happened here is a superintendent that was over zealous manipulating a bunch of milk toast board members for his own amusement at the expense of an innocent little girl.
I hope her parents have the wisdom and the cash to maybe get her some college level classes till next fall.
Zero tolerance does not mean a suspension of brains.
Posted by grassman on May 01 2014,6:28 pm
Zero tolerance is an excuse to be lazy and not deal with things on an individual basis. Go to to Walmart, one size does not fit all!
Posted by Glad I Left on May 02 2014,8:23 am
(irisheyes @ May 01 2014,10:50 am)
QUOTE
I'd agree it was excessive punishment, but "excessive punishment" is pretty subjective, isn't it? What punishment would you impose for bringing a 3-inch knife to school?
The story says she was facing expulsion up to one year, they expelled for the rest of the school year. Well, it's mid-April...
Zero tolerance policies are bothersome when they impact good kids, but so are double standards. I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV. Does that bother anyone else, or just me?
The story says she was facing expulsion up to one year, they expelled for the rest of the school year. Well, it's mid-April...
Zero tolerance policies are bothersome when they impact good kids, but so are double standards. I can guarantee if it was a poor kid from channel view or Court Street who's family couldn't afford a lawyer, we wouldn't even be talking about this and it wouldn't be in the paper or on national TV. Does that bother anyone else, or just me?
As I stated before, you pull her out of school until you find out more details. Err on the side of caution.
It seems that past history only comes into play when it is a bad person. This was a good kid by all accounts, does not that past history count?
As for the rest, I didn't know this girl or family when I posted this story to my Facebook wall. Nor did I know there socioeconomic background but still I was outraged nonetheless. They could have been from the local trailer court or from Park Ave.. doesn't matter to me.
Posted by Botto 82 on May 02 2014,11:45 am
(Grinning_Dragon @ May 01 2014,12:51 pm)
QUOTE
How about just getting rid of the damn zero intelligence tolerance BS?
Unfortunately, this sort of corporate think isn't going away anytime soon. We had independent school districts laying out their own guidelines before. Now, each district's policies are a cookie-cutter copy of pretty much every other district's policies. We now pay school administration staff exorbitant salaries to do one-fifth of the thinking work of their predecessors. And since the Walmart generation of parents is by-and-large okay with this, (no pun intended) nothing will change.
Posted by Liberal on May 03 2014,7:58 am
Alyssa is a great girl and there is no way that knife was for anything other than chores. When she lived in Albert Lea she stayed with us quite a bit and in all the time she stayed here she never did anything wrong. And my daughters were just saying that anytime they were doing something wrong it was always Alyssa that was the voice of reason.Also her family is not well off so I'm sure the lawyer wasn't easy to come by.
Posted by Self-Banished on May 03 2014,11:56 am
Just a thought, would she be able to fine a caring, upstanding citizen in Albert Lea to stay with and finish out her school suspension?
Posted by Liberal on May 03 2014,4:31 pm
Of course, she always has a bed here, but I'm sure she wants to stay with her dad and friends even if she has to finish the school year with a tutor. I'm just saying anyone that knows Alyssa knows that she had no ill intentions.I don't understand this zero tolerance crap. When I was in school I got in quite a bit of trouble and I would have expected to be treated differently than an honor roll student that's never been in trouble. Otherwise what's the point of not getting in trouble?
Posted by Self-Banished on May 03 2014,6:02 pm
^^me too, daily.
Posted by MADDOG on May 07 2014,1:32 pm
23 senators pen letter to Wells Commandant Jensen.QUOTE
A group of 23 Republican senators is speaking out in favor of the 17-year-old United South Central student expelled last month for mistakenly bringing a pocket knife to school.
The senators last week sent a letter to United South Central Superintendent Jerry Jensen and the school board asking for a “common sense solution” that could allow junior Alyssa Drescher to return to school and finish the year with her friends and classmates.
< No Democrats involved >.
The senators last week sent a letter to United South Central Superintendent Jerry Jensen and the school board asking for a “common sense solution” that could allow junior Alyssa Drescher to return to school and finish the year with her friends and classmates.
< No Democrats involved >.
QUOTE
“We have a responsibility to ensure that every child gets the best possible opportunity to succeed,” Chamberlain wrote in a separate letter to Drescher and her family. “This is why it is so troubling for me to see such a bright future potentially put in jeopardy over a rigid bureaucracy and a minor mistake.”
He said out of the 28 Republicans in the caucus, three chose not to sign the letter and two were not present the day he asked for signatures. He described the situation as “unfortunate and frustrating.”
District 23 Sen. Julie Rosen of Vernon Center was among the signers from the caucus. A portion of her district covers part of the USC district, such as Bricelyn and Easton, but not Wells, Walters, Freeborn or Kiester. They are in a district belonging to Austin Sen. Dan Sparks, a Democrat.
He said out of the 28 Republicans in the caucus, three chose not to sign the letter and two were not present the day he asked for signatures. He described the situation as “unfortunate and frustrating.”
District 23 Sen. Julie Rosen of Vernon Center was among the signers from the caucus. A portion of her district covers part of the USC district, such as Bricelyn and Easton, but not Wells, Walters, Freeborn or Kiester. They are in a district belonging to Austin Sen. Dan Sparks, a Democrat.
Posted by MADDOG on May 07 2014,2:33 pm
< tribune twist >Boy chases mates with knife
Albert Lea police received a report at 4:01 p.m. Tuesday of a 10-year-old boy who was reportedly chasing kids around the Halverson Elementary School parking lot with a pocket knife hoping to start summer break early.
The knife was folded and the blade was not exposed, said J.D. Carlson, deputy director of police with the Albert Lea Police Department.
Officers talked to the child and his parents. No charges are expected, however the boy did ask if he could be transferred to USC where the super and board expel kids for less.
Posted by ControlledHyperness on May 09 2014,4:22 pm
(MADDOG @ May 07 2014,2:33 pm)
QUOTE
< tribune twist >
Boy chases mates with knife
Albert Lea police received a report at 4:01 p.m. Tuesday of a 10-year-old boy who was reportedly chasing kids around the Halverson Elementary School parking lot with a pocket knife hoping to start summer break early.
The knife was folded and the blade was not exposed, said J.D. Carlson, deputy director of police with the Albert Lea Police Department.
Officers talked to the child and his parents. No charges are expected, however the boy did ask if he could be transferred to USC where the super and board expel kids for less.
Boy chases mates with knife
Albert Lea police received a report at 4:01 p.m. Tuesday of a 10-year-old boy who was reportedly chasing kids around the Halverson Elementary School parking lot with a pocket knife hoping to start summer break early.
The knife was folded and the blade was not exposed, said J.D. Carlson, deputy director of police with the Albert Lea Police Department.
Officers talked to the child and his parents. No charges are expected, however the boy did ask if he could be transferred to USC where the super and board expel kids for less.
Normally I would find this funny, but I had JUST left home, less than a 1/2 block away when this happened. I know the kid who got chased, and was grateful my ownkids weren't there playing as they normally would had it been any other day. Personally, I don't buy that he was just joking, and that the blade wasn't drawn...unfortunately, some of the kids that live around here are great at distorting what actually happen. I have seen and heard this first hand...and have had kids that were on the receiving end of it.
That said, I don't know Alyssa, but I think there is something fishy about the story. Back when I was in school (granted, a different state and district, but similar rules in place), if a drug dog hit a locker, the student using the locker had to be present while they looked inside. No digging in bags were done unless there was a reasonable cause...and the dog hitting on the locker wasn't it. I also agree that the punishment was excessive given she has never been in trouble before.
Posted by MADDOG on May 12 2014,11:16 am
(MADDOG @ May 07 2014,1:32 pm)
QUOTE
23 senators pen letter to Wells Commandant Jensen.
Well, it must have been seen as bad publicity to have the state representative representing the rest of the school district come forward and send a letter to the DOE also.
< Savick has asked for a stay of execution >after the prisoner was hanged.
Posted by Self-Banished on May 12 2014,1:05 pm
^^^smells like political "hay" to me.
Posted by Liberal on May 13 2014,9:23 am
Apparently the ALPD and other area law enforcement went through the lockers and cars today at the high school.
Posted by Liberal on May 13 2014,10:51 am
(MADDOG @ May 12 2014,11:16 am)
QUOTE
(MADDOG @ May 07 2014,1:32 pm)
QUOTE
23 senators pen letter to Wells Commandant Jensen.
Well, it must have been seen as bad publicity to have the state representative representing the rest of the school district come forward and send a letter to the DOE also.
< Savick has asked for a stay of execution >after the prisoner was hanged.
I know you were educated in Iowa but you've had years to take remedial classes to try to catch up...
Those of us with the ability to read and understand 3 syllable words can see that the republitards sent a letter to the knuckleheads at USC and Savick's letter was sent to "Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, asking her to overturn the expulsion of Alyssa Drescher."
Try to keep up.
Posted by Botto 82 on May 13 2014,12:41 pm
(Liberal @ May 13 2014,9:23 am)
QUOTE
Apparently the ALPD and other area law enforcement went through the lockers and cars today at the high school.
So students have no 4th Amendment rights?
Posted by Liberal on May 13 2014,2:10 pm
Where have you been, they haven't had 4th amendment rights since a short time after we graduated? Can't be letting students have rights when we're fighting a war against some drugs.I don't know if they searched the cars and lockers or just ran the dogs through and then searched.
Posted by ControlledHyperness on May 14 2014,4:37 pm
(Liberal @ May 13 2014,2:10 pm)
QUOTE
I don't know if they searched the cars and lockers or just ran the dogs through and then searched.
Lets hope the dogs stayed out of it. The dogs cased the lockers at USC, and picked up on Alyssa's perfume and lotion...and see what came of that. Wonder how many kids will get graduation yanked from them at the 11th hour due to the raid...er search today