Mooresville board delegates student suspension/expulsion appeals to administration and third-party attorney
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Summary
The board voted to continue its past practice of not personally hearing student due process appeals; the board approved a process delegating initial handling to designated school administration and a third‑party attorney identified as Steve Harris.
The Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation Board of School Trustees on July 8 approved a recommendation to continue its practice of not personally hearing student due process appeals for suspensions or expulsions and to delegate those procedures to designated school administration and a third-party reviewer.
Superintendent Dr. Don Allen explained that student due process appeals may result from disciplinary actions such as suspension and expulsion and said the board’s past practice has been not to hear such appeals. He recommended that designated school administrators and a third-party entity handle the procedures; when asked by member Dave Oberle, Dr. Allen identified the third-party as Attorney Steve Harris.
The board voted 4-0 to approve the recommended Student Due Process of Appeals. The motion was made by Dave Oberle and seconded by Deon Brimmage; Timothy Cummins, Dave Oberle, Deon Brimmage and Jennifer Reed voted yes; Board President Matt Saner was absent.
Dr. Allen described the authority shift as consistent with prior practice; the board did not adopt new bylaws or statutory language at the meeting, and the meeting record does not detail the third party’s contractual or oversight arrangement.
The approved action directs administrators to use the designated administrative process and a third-party reviewer for appeals rather than bringing cases before the full school board.