The Juab Board of Education has given preliminary approval to a policy requiring students who bring guns to school to be expelled for a period of one-year.
The policy adopts language contained in the Gun-Free School Act which has been incorporated into the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.The ban would also apply to guns kept in vehicles in school parking lots, such as hunting rifles. Board President Leon Pexton said the message is simple - don't bring guns to school.
District Superintendent Kirk Wright said the board will likely make all final decisions concerning expulsions. He said while the act gives school officials some latitude in determining the punishment for violators, he personally believes that responsibility lies with the board. He said it would also be the board's decision as to whether alternative education offerings are made such as the assignment of a home tutor for the dismissed student.
In other business, the board learned that every school in the district has experienced an increase in student enrollment. Nephi's popularity as a commuter suburb for Utah County appears to be behind the student influx. Most of the new students attended Utah County schools last year.