West Elk adds suspension and expulsion penalties for ammunition possession

What happened

The board approved a Student Handbook change setting school discipline for possessing live or spent ammunition on school property. The listed consequences range from 1–3 days of in-school suspension for a first offense to a one-year expulsion for a third offense, with administrators allowed to impose stronger penalties based on the incident.

Why it matters to families

The change makes ammunition possession an explicit handbook offense with escalating consequences, including potential expulsion, for students across the district.

The evidence

September 14, 2026 minutes record a 6-0 vote to add language under the handbook’s reasons for suspension or expulsion. The provision covers live or spent ammunition (bullets, cartridges, shells, or casings) at school or on school property and lists 1–3 days ISS for a first offense, 1–3 days OSS for a second, and expulsion for one year (153 school days) for a third; it says the schedule is a guide and administrators may impose a higher consequence based on their assessment of the incident or its severity.

The source