The expulsion hearing for Gemma was a focal point, stemming from a Snapchat post that referenced a potential school shooting. This post, shared on September 22nd, set off alarms across the Albert Lea School District, causing more than half of its students to be absent the following day. The hearing was conducted in alignment with Minnesota’s pupil fair dismissal act. The administration argued that Gemma’s actions constituted a willful violation of school policy, which endangered the safety of the school environment and warranted expulsion.

The board heard testimony from various school officials, including the dean of students and the principal. These testimonies highlighted the immediate response to the threat, which involved law enforcement and extensive communications with parents and staff to mitigate panic. The principal reported receiving numerous emails and messages from concerned parents and students, further exacerbating the situation’s gravity. The messages shared on social media, some altered, implied an imminent threat, leading to widespread fear and misunderstandings.

Gemma’s father contested the district’s response to the incident, questioning the effectiveness of communications that assured parents the threat had been neutralized. Despite assurances, many parents chose to keep their children home. The father’s concerns pointed to perceived gaps in the district’s crisis communication strategy and the rapid spread of unverified information contributing to heightened fears.

During the meeting, the board examined the district’s policy on non-exclusionary discipline, debating whether immediate expulsion was the most appropriate response. The administration maintained that the severity of the incident and its impact justified such a measure. They argued that the expulsion aligned with district policy, which strictly prohibits threatening behavior and mandates maintaining a safe educational environment.

Board members expressed their concerns over the incident’s broader effects, acknowledging the significant disruption to the educational process and the emotional toll on students, staff, and the wider community. The gravity of the situation was underscored by parental testimonies during the meeting, with several parents articulating their children’s fear and hesitancy to attend school.

The board ultimately moved to accept findings of fact and concluded with a proposal to expel Gemma for 12 months. A motion was filed to formalize the expulsion, which passed with unanimous support. The resolution outlined procedural steps for the expulsion, including notifying the Minnesota Department of Education and arranging alternative educational services for Gemma during her expulsion.