BURNSVILLE-EAGAN-SAVAGE: No-tolerance weapons policy gets wiggle room

Updated: August 12, 2009 - 12:16 AM

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BURNSVILLE-EAGAN-SAVAGE

No-tolerance weapons policy gets wiggle room

The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage district's zero-tolerance weapons policy will be loosened up just a bit, the school board decided last week.

The board approved changes to the policy that give school administrators more leeway to assign penalties short of expulsion when students bring weapons to school.

The new guidelines call for school officials to consider several criteria, including the offending student's age, special needs, behavioral history and the circumstances of the offense. They will also take into account the student's intent and level of aggressiveness with the weapon.

Leniency only applies to first-time offenders, however. Students in grades 4-12 who bring a weapon to school a second time will be recommended for expulsion for up to a year.

Many Minnesota districts passed no-tolerance weapons policies in the 1990s with the aim of preventing school violence. In some cases, though, parents have objected when their children were expelled for accidental or innocent infractions.

ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN

District commended for energy savings

A St. Paul-based program that helps K-12 schools trim their energy bills has commended the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district on its savings.

The district has saved more than $500,000 after two years in the program, according to a news release from Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE).

The SEE program, created by Energy Efficiency Programs Inc., helps employees and students save money by changing their behavior and tracking utility expenses.

SARAH LEMAGIE