FARMINGTON – A senior from Mt. Blue High School was suspended after a disciplinary hearing before SAD 9 directors Wednesday, according to Chairman Ray Glass.
Police found an unloaded handgun, shotgun shells and ammunition for the handgun under the seat of a pickup truck the New Vineyard boy had driven to school March 25.
The truck and weapon belonged to the student’s older brother, Glass said.
An administrative search of the vehicle was initiated when another student, who rode with him to school that day, appeared to be under the influence of marijuana, he said.
During the search, the .25-caliber handgun was discovered by Farmington police officers, according to Farmington Police Chief Richard Caton III.
The student was immediately suspended for 10 days.
During the hearing, the boy claimed no knowledge of the firearm’s presence in the vehicle.
According to Glass, federal law states that any student bringing a dangerous weapon onto school grounds can be subject to a one-year expulsion.
The board determined the student did not knowingly bring the gun to school. Glass said the student’s attorney, Walter Hanstein, argued that because he had no knowledge of the weapon’s presence, the student was not in possession of the gun from a legal standpoint.
However, Glass said, it did potentially put people at risk.
After about an hour and a half of deliberations, with members speaking on both sides of the issue, the board voted 9-4 to suspend the student for an additional 20 days, for a total of 30.
“It was a tough, tough decision,” said Glass.
The close vote and wide scope of the discussion indicated the range of concern, he added.
Attempts to reach SAD 9 Superintendent Michael Cormier for comment Friday were unsuccessful.
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