By Kim Hilsenbeck
Was it a case of forgetfulness or willful disobeying school rules? Either way, two Hays High School students, including one football player in his senior year, will spend up to 120 days at the Impact Center – an alternative disciplinary campus for Hays CISD.
Last Wednesday, Principal David Pierce sent a letter out to parents notifying them that security personnel at the school found two students’ vehicles in the parking lot containing a shotgun and a hunting knife.
Anyone in Hays County who has heard the popping noise of shotguns in the woods recently is likely aware that the opening of dove season in Texas was Sept. 1.
Pierce’s letter said, “This morning, during a routine check of the Hays High School parking lot, a security guard discovered hunting weapons in two different pickup trucks. The weapons were locked in each vehicle and there was no threat to students or staff. One truck had a shot gun and the other had hunting knives.”
“Though no threat to the campus existed, it is a very serious offense to bring a prohibited weapon onto school property. The two students – a junior and a senior – could face law enforcement consequences. In addition, our Hays CISD code of conduct specifies disciplinary consequences for these situations.”
“I encourage all parents to talk with their children about making sure items that are prohibited on campuses are removed from their cars before they go to school. The safety of all students is our top priority each and every day at Hays High School.”
Lt. Jeri Skroki, a spokesperson for the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, said her office is not pursuing any criminal charges against the students because law enforcement has no jurisdiction since the weapons were in the vehicles in the parking lot, not on school premises.
Texas Penal Code 46.035 defines “Premises” as a building or a portion of a building. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.
According to district officials, a security guard – one of several who regularly patrol the campus’ parking lots using golf carts – saw spent shotgun shell casings in the bed of a pickup truck. The shotgun itself was locked inside the truck’s cab. The hunting knives were apparently in plain sight in another vehicle.
Hays CISD officials said the weapons were found by security staff, not reported by other students.
Based on district and campus rules, which are derived gfrom the Texas Education Code, an offense of this nature requires expulsion.
Hays CISD spokesperson Tim Savoy said, “The punishment (from the school) is a mandatory expulsion, either to the Impact Center or home because of the weapons in the trucks. The number of days for the expulsion is at the discretion of the principal.”
Under the rules, Pierce can limit the number of days in Impact.
Commenters on the Hays Free Press Facebook page responded on both sides of the issue. (See right)
Regardless of any commenter’s personal history with the district, what appears to be at issue is a rule was broken and a consequence should be given. Those who argue the rule should not be in place face stern rebuttal from those who say that rule is for the safety of all students and campus staff.
But changing that rule in the current politically correct climate, says Buda resident Campbell Key, Sr., would likely be futile, or at minimum, face an uphill battle.
For now, at least one student’s family is working with a lawyer and district officials to minimize the length of punishment. Parents have the right to protest such punishment, as Norma Mercado of Kyle did last fall when her son and another Lehman High School student went semi-streaking down the football field during the Lehman-Hays rival game.
The students spent a night in jail. Principal Michelle Chae sent the students to Impact for 120 days.
Mercado said she appealed to Chae, saying her son should have a consequence but that the length of time was not reasonable. Mercado said Chae reduced the students’ Impact time to 47 days.
District officials say this incident is a teachable moment for parents.
“I think the most important lesson is to be careful what you bring on campus. Make sure you don’t leave anything in your car that isn’t allowed. State laws are very specific on what has to happen in situations involving school security,” Savoy said.
Hays Free Press Facebook comments:
Noel Rodriguez wrote, “RULES ARE RULES! School officials need to enforce them and disciplinary action should be taken, regardless of what season it is.”
“There is a place for weapons, and it isn’t on a school campus brought in by students, that’s how people have gotten injured and killed in the past. Yes there should be consequences! I have a child at that campus and I work for the school district and I believe in consequences!” wrote Kathy Singleton, who said she has a student at the school and is herself a district employee.
Cristina Lee Parker commented, “I’m all for guns and hunting... but come on people! Guns are NOT allowed in school campus’! Rules are rules. And it’s a good rule!?(At least, parents, teach your children not to be stupid about it and leave weapons out where they can be seen.).”
Mike Fulton wrote, “Zero tolerance is a terrible policy. Laws have defenses built in because no 2 incidents are the same. Zero tolerance has brought us to the point where a kids punishment for bringing a Tylenol to school is the same as the punishment for bringing heroine to school. No reasonable person would think that makes sense.”
Bobby Doherty said, “When I was in High School at Hays we had shot guns in our gun racks everyday during dove season.”
Charles C. Chance responded, “Damn right we did Bobby... The principal even got jealous that we had nicer shotguns....”
Former Hays High student John Turner echoed Doherty’s comment, writing, “In 1987, we always had shot guns and rifles in our pickups gun rack at Hays. Crazy.”
