Zero Tolerance Case Analysis and Rational 1

Joy Coleman

Zero Tolerance Case Analysis and Rational

EAD 505

July 21, 2020

Zero Tolerance Case Analysis and Rational 2

Case Analysis:

Under the leadership of the district superintendent and the school board, all schools

within the Unified School District of Carterville would implement a policy of zero tolerance.

This policy means there is no tolerances for any form of weapons, school truancies, sexual

harassment and physical assault. The school’s administrator is expected to create a plan for the

school that incorporated the districts new zero-tolerance policy. Mrs. Idleman, a lead teacher was

appointment by the principal at Rancho Elementary to develop a plan for their school because

she completed the school administrator program. While the principal was out attending a

meeting, Ms. Idleman submitted the plan for approval. The plan was forwarded by the

administrative assistant at Rancho Elementary to Ms. Boxer, the assistant principal, for approval.

Ms. Boxer felt confident that the principal would be all right with the plan, so she went ahead

and printed copies to be distributed to the student body that afternoon.

A problem occurred during Becky Skutter’s assignment presentation in Ms. Idleman’s

class. At the end of Becky presentation, she revealed an old handgun and explained to the class

that her father believed the gun was from the nineteenth century. When Ms. Idleman noticed the

handgun, she asked Becky to quietly put it back in her bag and she will hold onto the bag until

the end of the school day. At the end of the school day, Ms. Idleman told Becky she gave her an

“A” on her presentation and to take the handgun back to her father. Becky was not reported to

administration. The next day, one of the parents from Ms. Idleman’s class called the school and

extremely angry. The parent threatened to contact superintendent, local media and other parents.

As principal of Rancho Elementary, I would first check to see if letters had already been

sent out to families explaining the new zero-tolerance policy prior to the incident and if there was

any type of return slip attached to the letter to confirm that parents have read the letter and
Zero Tolerance Case Analysis and Rational 3

understand the school’s new zero-tolerance policy. Lastly, I would find out if the handgun was

loaded and if Becky had any type of ammunition in her possession.

One possible solution is to consider this situation a misunderstanding since the student

used the handgun as a prop in her presentation. While guns are not allowed on campus, the

handgun was not loaded and there is no evidence to support that the student intended to harm

anyone. However, I do not feel that this would be the best solution given the school’s zero-

tolerance policy. If the school has a zero-tolerance policy in place was sent home to notify

families of the policy, then staff and students must abide by it. Becky must have a consequence

that is appropriate to the violation of the policy.

As long as the zero-tolerance policy is stated in the school’s plan and sent home to

families, Becky needs to have the consequences of the violations of bringing a gun to school.

According to the Gun Free Schools Act of 1994, “student should be expelled for at least one year

following such an incident.” (Federal Law on Guns in School, n.d.) so Becky should be expelled

because of the violation. However, the gun was not loaded and was not meant to be used as a

weapon as it was used as an example to support her presentation, it seems to be extreme, but a

zero-tolerance policy was created for a reason. If Becky’s parents were not in agreement, I would

inform them they can present their concerns to the school board so the school board and legal

team can resolve the situation. As for Ms. Idlemen, I believe that she should be written up for

allowing the violation to the zero-tolerance policy. I believe Ms. Boxer did nothing wrong if she

indeed make sure the new zero-tolerance policy was part of the school plan and copies were

made and sent home to the families. When I am a principal, I hope to have an vice principal who

knows me well enough and is a strong enough leader to step in when I am absent.

Rationale:
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Even if the zero-tolerance policy was overlooked or left out when writing the school plan,

the policy is a school district policy. At my school, the parent and student handbook can be

found on the school website and parents are expected to review the handbook with their child

then sign a document stating they have read and received the handbook. The parents are also sent

the district handbook to review and verify they have gone over the policies in the handbook with

their child. Therefore, if the zero-tolerance policy was left out of the Rancho Elementary school

plan, the policy would have been communicated to parents and students because it is a district

wide policy.

Zero-tolerance means an act violating the policy will not be tolerated. Becky brought the

handgun to school and in her mind it was in an innocent way since it was used as an example in

her project but zero-tolerance means zero-tolerance, no expectations. Becky should be received

expulsion from Rancho Elementary for no less than one year as stated in the Gun Free School

Act of 1994 (Federal Law on Guns in School, n.d.). This consequence also supports the district

and school policy that is essential to students because it informs students, staff and the school

community in order to keep all safe within the district, weapons of any kind will not be tolerated

on campus.
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References:

1. Federal Law on Guns in School. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2020, from

http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-laws/federal-law/firearms-in-public-places/guns-in-schools/.

2. Hanson, K. L., & Hanson, K. L. (2009). A casebook for school leaders: linking the

ISLLC standards to effective practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill/Prentice

Hall.