Vacationland Times

State Representative Gary Click's legislation aimed at establishing an expulsion policy for students deemed a severe threat to themselves, others, or school faculty has passed the Ohio House. The measure permits school boards to authorize superintendents to expel students for up to 180 days if they pose an imminent and severe danger.

Click emphasized the importance of safety in schools: “Parents are entrusting schools to protect their children while they are away from the home,” he stated. The legislation aims to provide school administrators with the authority and discretion needed to address such threats effectively while setting conditions for reinstatement of expelled students.

The bill outlines "imminent and severe endangerment" through four specific scenarios. These include bringing a weapon capable of causing serious injury onto school property, committing a criminal act resulting in serious harm, making bomb threats, or issuing articulated threats that imply a serious risk.

A critical component of the legislation is the requirement for superintendents to establish conditions for student reinstatement. This process involves an assessment by a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist agreed upon by both the district superintendent and the student's parent. Should a student not meet these conditions at the end of their expulsion period, superintendents may extend expulsions by up to 90 days before reassessing.

The proposed law will now advance to the Senate for further deliberation.