By Lori Ehde
The Luverne High School junior charged with stabbing a girl has been expelled for the remainder of the school year, according to action taken at a special School Board meeting Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Seventeen-year-old Sarah Elizabeth Smook, Luverne, was charged Jan. 4 in Rock County District Court with two counts of second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of fifth degree assault.
According to school weapons policy, Smook was initially suspended for five days, and the Wednesday meeting was scheduled.
Present at the meeting were Luverne School Board members and school attorney Don Klosterbuer. Smook and her parents did not attend the meeting on advice of her legal counsel.
Superintendent Vince Schaefer said the school weapons policy states that after the five-day suspension, it's up to the board whether or not the student can remain in school.
But he said there wasn't much hesitation in deciding to expel, in this case. "It's gotten to the point with violence in schools that I think 95 percent of situations will go that route," Schaefer said.
He said the board also discussed what its approach should be to the alleged harassment and bullying that precipitated the stabbing.
"Things happen for a reason," Schaefer said. "We need to get down to what the reason was here."
He wasn't specific, but he said there may be penalties imposed on students accused of harassing and bullying Smook.
"We're interviewing students and parents, trying to get to the bottom of this," Schaefer said.
The board and administration urges students and parents to alert the school of conflicts before things get violent.
"If you don't tell me, how do I know how to help you?" High School Principal Gary Fisher said Tuesday.
He said he frequently squashes minor disputes among students, and if he'd known about this one, there's a chance the stabbing may have been prevented.
"It's better to call me and get it off your chest than to stay home and be mad about it," he said, directing the comment at both students and parents.
He said he's not going to be able help in all cases, but it's always best to let him or another school staff member know.
Smook appeared in Rock County District Court Monday and entered a plea of not guilty.
According to the Rock County Attorney's Office, entering a not guilty plea on a first appearance is quite common, because it allows time for attorneys to review reports and discuss matters with clients.
Smook will take classes at Minnesota West Community and Technical College through the Post Secondary Option at Luverne High School.