Hartland School Board Approves 2 Expulsions

Two Hartland High School male students — a freshman and a junior — were expelled from the Hartland School District for the remainder of the 2010-11 school year Monday evening following unrelated incidents in March involving a bomb threat and a X-ACTO knife.

Hartland Superintendent Janet Sifferman confirmed the connections after a meeting in which Board of Education unanimously approved in separate votes without comment. She offered no additional comment.

occurred on March 9 at the high school. The freshman, 15, according to police and the district at the time, admitted to making the bomb threat and was remorseful after another student tipped off authorities. The threat was the third since Jan. 1 and came after the for information. Police said they believed the student caught didn't make the previous threats.

In the other case, the junior reportedly grabbed knife from his bag after a freshman made fun of him about his glasses during lunch in the commons area and jabbed the student in the arm. The knife, while allowed in art classes, is not supposed to be carried by students.

Both students were also facing possible criminal charges in connection to the incidents, but Hartland Patch was unable to seek an update after hours on Monday.

The expulsions were the second and third of the year. The district March 28 over an incident that was drug-related. Officials say that's about how many occur in the district, which has an enrollment of about 5,500 students, per year.

New reproductive health videos emphasizing abstinence approved

The board unanimously approved the additions of the videos "Everyone Is Not Doing It" parts one and three to the reproductive health curriculum for grades 9-12.

The videos are done by Mike Long, a North Carolina educator who has specialized in abstinence education since the mid-1980s and has spoken across the country, according to his website. For highlights to part one, click here and for part three, click here.

Laurie Mayes, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, introduced the new materials to the board at a public hearing as part of the March 28 meeting. Mayes noted that the reproductive health committee — which is comprised of clergy, parents, health professionals and teachers — unanimously approved the sections as well.

Additional reproductive health curriculum (including part two of Long's video series) was approved for grades 5-12 in January.