Mundelein High expulsions outnumber others
Four more teenagers were expelled from Mundelein High School last week, bringing the total for the school year to 10.
That's significantly greater than the number at other Lake County campuses, a survey of about a dozen schools showed. Few schools reported more than one or two expulsions. Several had none.
Unlike other disciplinary actions, such as suspensions or detentions, expulsions are handed out by school boards and not administrators or teachers. Mundelein High School District 120 school board Vice President Steve Wirt called expelling a student the hardest thing a board member has to do.
"It's not a slam dunk," Wirt said of an expulsion. "There is significant conversation between the administration and the board members on each issue."
Mundelein High co-interim superintendent John Barbini said offenses that lead to expulsion typically fall in four categories: drugs, gangs, weapons or violence.
Expulsions typically last about one year. Some expelled students are allowed to attend a regional alternative education program, and some eventually return to their home schools.
The most recent expulsions at Mundelein High occurred at the March 11 board meeting following closed-door talks designed to protect students' privacy.
The number of Lake County high school students expelled during this academic year.School ExpulsionsAntioch 5Grant 2Grayslake 1Lake Zurich 0Lakes 4Libertyville 0Mundelein 10Round Lake 4Stevenson 0Vernon Hills 1Warren Twp. 6Wauconda 2Sources: Daily Herald interviewsOne teen, a freshman, was expelled for bringing a knife to school, administrators said. Three other students -- two juniors and a senior -- were expelled for their roles in a single drug-related matter, officials said.With about two months until the end of the school year, the number of expulsions at Mundelein is approaching the school's total from the 2006-07 term, 13.Eleven Mundelein High students were expelled the previous year, officials said.The 10 students expelled this year represent less than 1 percent of Mundelein's student body, Barbini said. About 2,200 teens attend the school."It's obvious that the overwhelming majority of our students choose to follow our disciplinary policy," Barbini said. "(But) kids make bad decisions sometimes."The newest Mundelein High expulsions occurred about a month after five other teens were kicked out of the school.Two of those students made bomb threats against the school, police said. The other three teens were involved in a gang incident, school administrators said.Until last month, only one Mundelein High student had been expelled this school year. Barbini didn't know why the incidents that led to most of the expulsions occurred this time of year.Elsewhere in Lake County, Libertyville, Stevenson and Lake Zurich high schools have had no expulsions this year, officials said.Vernon Hills and Grayslake high schools each have had one expulsion. Two teens have been expelled at Wauconda High and Grant High. Four teens have been expelled at Round Lake High School and Lakes Community High. Five have been expelled at Antioch High.The number of students expelled at any school can vary from year to year, depending on the circumstances of the infraction, Warren Township High School District 121 spokeswoman Carolyn Waller said. Six Warren students have been expelled this year, while 13 were last year, Waller said.Wirt doesn't believe the number of expulsions at Mundelein means students are out of control."We have an aggressive enforcement policy," he said. "We are trying to make sure the school stays a learning environment and the kids area not distracted."Wirt also credited the school's security staff and the Mundelein police officer stationed at the school for uncovering the incidents that led to the expulsions.The rules concerning student behavior at Mundelein High exist for a purpose, board President Edwin Specht said."You just can't have students who want to violate those rules, especially when it comes to drugs and so forth," Specht said. "We have zero tolerance."