KELSEYVILLE — Five Kelseyville High School seniors will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies because they admitted to drinking sips of alcohol on a KCORPS school trip.
The five seniors along with two juniors were suspended for five days and brought up on disciplinary charges last week during which the seniors were stripped of their privileges, including participating in graduation and grad night, civics teacher Pat Nunes said. “I personally think the kids” rights were violated.”
Nunes cited a lack of due process, that the students were forced to be witnesses against themselves and the information was based on hearsay and confessions, he said. He also questioned whether the students knew the consequences when they admitted to drinking.
Principal Matt Cockerton said he couldn”t comment because some of the students are minors and it”s a confidential matter.
Superintendent Dave McQueen didn”t return requests for comment.
Nunes said McQueen has a conflict in the matter, as his son is involved.
On the final KCORPS overnighter, it”s tradition for the graduating seniors, “oldies,” to have alcohol with the “greenies,” new students entering the program, said Stephanie Pryor, 27, whose brothers Anthony and Thomas were suspended. One student told the teacher, who was required to take action and called the Sheriff”s Office. Out of more than a dozen students who were drinking that night in mid-May, seven were honest and admitted so.
“They”re being punished for telling the truth,” Pryor said. “We”re basically telling these kids you should have lied.”
The teacher and law enforcement didn”t find any alcohol and the students weren”t drunk, Nunes and Pryor said.
The seniors also missed their senior trip to Santa Cruz.
Pryor said she thinks after 13 years of schooling the seniors are having something important taken away from them. “I think it”s been taken a little too far.”
A number of teachers and parents didn”t return requests for comment by press time.
Nunes said he thinks it”s unlikely that the Kelseyville Unified School District Board of Trustees will change their mind and allow the seniors to walk. He thinks those involved are all good students.
“Even really good students make a few mistakes and take a few sips of alcohol,” Nunes said. “The punishment seems too severe, though it may be board policy.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
