A group of Ollivier middle school parents are up in arms following the suspension of five students from that school.Last Friday, staff members from Ollivier School say the kids were fighting in the rain during their lunch break, but parents say it was a mis-interpretation and that suspending the kids was too harsh.
Administrators from Ollivier Middle School say they have one of the highest suspension rates in their district.
On Monday parents of the students, say that the school went too far by suspending them.
Vanessa Estrada was one of the five kids who were suspended on Friday from Ollivier Middle school, she say's she was simply horse playing on a rainy day. She says, "It was a group of kids and we were just all stepping on each other and they just got us in trouble and when I went with the teacher that suspended me, I was crying and he told me not to cry because he didn't care for my tears that I was going to get in trouble, so just be quiet."
Parents on Monday were out at the school district to protest the punishment they received. Esther Stenger is a mother, she says, "The kids were playing in the water because it was a very rainy day, Assistant Principal Brandon Harris said he couldn't identify if the children were playing or fighting, so in our opinion it was a misinterpretation."
Chichester says that the school has a zero tolerance policy on campus disturbances. Chichester says,
“Anytime there is a disruption in a learning environment or potentially dangerous situation or somebody could get hurt, then that is an offense that can make for suspension."
Meantime, Kern County Schools continues to have the highest suspension and expulsion rates in the state.
The Assistant Superintendent says he will continue to investigate the suspensions.
