The George Washington Middle School student who made a social media post about bringing guns to school has been expelled. At a special meeting on Nov. 19 the Lyons School District 103 Board of Education voted 6-1 to expel the student who is, according to a GWMS parent who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the case, an eighth-grade boy from Stickney.
“It was a very emotional and hard decision to make,” said school board member Shannon Johnson. “You don’t ever want to do it but you’re looking out for the other 699 kids.”
The expulsion came after a disciplinary hearing on Nov.18. Winifred Rodriguez cast the only vote against expelling the student. The school board voted to expel the student without agreeing to pay for his alternative education.
“I can’t be passive about it, we have to send a strong message,” said District 103 Superintendent Kristopher Rivera.
The post appeared on Snapchat in early November and was apparently forwarded to the FBI by Snapchat. On Nov. 5 FBI agents and Stickney police visited the boy’s home. No specific threat was made other than mention of bringing guns to school.
