Boy suspended for having explosive device in school
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A Kaua'i High School sophomore who brought a small explosive device to school in his backpack Friday has been suspended for the remainder of the school year.
The boy, who was not identified, will continue his studies with the Department of Education, with homework and lessons sent to him by teachers and by tutoring, if necessary. He will not be allowed on campus during normal school hours, said Daniel Hamada, head of public schools on Kaua'i.
Hamada said the boy was called into the school office Friday on another rules infraction, and that a search turned up the device.
Police Chief George Freitas said the device contained a small amount of firecracker powder placed inside a Christmas ornament that had been wrapped up. It had a sparkler as "a kind of crude fuse," he said. The device was exploded by Army munitions experts from O'ahu.
Both Hamada and Freitas said the boy apparently had no intention of hurting anyone.
"It was more like he was showing it to friends and saying, 'Look what I made,' " Freitas said.
Hamada suspended the boy for 92 school days, which can be appealed to state DOE Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto.
Last month, six Kea'au Middle School seventh-graders were suspended for one year after two handguns were brought to school by one student and passed around to the other five. The case was reported by a parent after a youth brought one of the handguns home.
A number of regulations apply to situations in which students bring dangerous materials to school. The federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994 required states that receive federal school funding to enact regulations calling for a minimum one-year suspension for any student who brings a weapon to school. However, that regulation, as well as state rules, allow the schools superintendent to review the suspensions on a case-by-case basis.
In the 2000-2001 school year, according to a DOE report to the state Legislature, there were 13 firearm incidents involving 17 students across the state. Almost all involved air guns. Penalties ranged from a three-day suspension to one year.
The DOE was unable to provide more recent numbers.
Contact Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
