Expulsion Recommended For Dublin Students Involved In Fight

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin High School is recommending that three out of the five students involved in a Feb. 20 fight be expelled, according to the Dublin Unified School District.

On the morning of Feb. 20, five students were involved in a fight in the Dublin High School Student Union. The fight resulted in one student left briefly unconscious, according to an initial report from Dublin Police Services. Two other students were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, and the school went under shelter-in-place for about an hour.

On Monday, the district announced that five students have been suspended, and three have been recommended for expulsion following an investigation. Though the students have been recommended for expulsion, this will not be finalized until a lengthy process is complete. The district is not releasing student names due to “confidentiality reasons.”

Under the California Education Code, any student recommended for expulsion must receive a written notice at least 10 calendar days before an expulsion hearing. The notice details the charges against the student, a summary of the evidence, and notifies the student of their right to be represented by an attorney or advocate, present evidence and witnesses, cross-examine witnesses, and review and challenge the evidence.

The hearing must be conducted by the school board, or a panel authorized by the board, within 30 school days of the initial suspension, unless an extension is granted. If a hearing panel is used, the school board must make a decision within 10 school days after receiving the panel’s recommendation.

If the board votes to expel, they must provide a written notice to the student and their family detailing the reasons for expulsion, the student’s educational placement during expulsion, and the right to appeal to the County Board of Education within 30 days. If expelled, students will be assigned to an alternative education program, which could include a continuation school outside the district, an independent study program, or a county community school. Expelled students may apply for readmission after the period of expulsion ends, which must be approved by the school board. If accepted, the district must provide a rehabilitation plan that the student must complete before reapplying.