Tardy Students Locked Out of Class and Suspended

A controversial school program in Pahokee quickly shuts down! Students were being suspended for a day if they were late showing up for class. But was the program even legal? No one from the school would talk about it, so CBS 12's Summer Knowles talked to upset parents.

"It makes me feel very saddened it makes me feel very frustrated," said Stephanie Hanford.

That was Hanford's reaction to a letter sent to her from Pahokee Junior/Senior High School saying two of her children had been suspended for being late to class. Their suspension was the result of the school's new lockout plan that took effect Thursday.

"I think its unfair, I think its very unfair." Hanford isn't the only parent who feels that way. Julia Ferguson's 7th grade son was also one of the more than 75 students who were late to class Thursday and suspended. 
 
"He was sent to I.S.S (in school suspension) for the day and suspended for the next day, and what is so disappointing about it is my son is an excellent student," said Ferguson.

According to an email sent from the school's principal, Ariel Alejo, the rationale for the lockout plan was "to ensure all students are arriving to class on time and to increase instructional time in each class." That same email directed teachers to close and lock their door at the sound of the bell and send all late students to the cafeteria.

"They'll get suspended and some wont tell their parents and (they will) go up town and then you've got double trouble for them," said Randy Virgil.
 
Parents like Virgil point out that the rules of the Palm Beach County School Board specifically state under its discipline for attendance violations section that "no student shall be suspended for unexcused tardiness, lateness, absence or truancy.
 
 "My kids were very disappointed and obviously the school board agrees with them, they don't list suspension as one of the ways to discipline a child who is tardy," said Ferguson.
 
A statement formt he Palm Beach County School District says "the school believes it acted within the policy regarding insubordination, and since the situation has turned around, it will not need to continue to use this strategy."

But upset parents say they aren't buying it, especially since the principal's email to teachers said nothing about insubordination. Their message to the school prinicpal? Follow the rules.

"He needs to abide by the rules of Palm Beach County School District.