9 junior high students face discipline over conflict

2/10/2001

Nine students at Leverette Junior High School are facing disciplinary action, including possible expulsion, after a disturbance in the school on Thursday morning.

The suspects, ranging in age from 13 to 15 years, were charged with violations of the safe school ordinance and booked into the Child Study Institute, authorities said.

The confrontation took place one day after a fight outside the school at 1111 East Manhattan Blvd., Principal Wanda Kirtz said.

She said that no weapons were involved and there were no injuries.

Ms. Kirtz said most of the students were given notices of removal with intent to expel. She said some of the students are in special education and cannot be expelled through the normal process. She would not say exactly how many of the students face expulsion.

The disturbance began Wednesday afternoon outside the school when a group of eight students attacked another student, knocking him to the ground and punching and kicking him.

The suspects are members of a group called the X-Block gang, while the victim said he was associated with the Bloods gang, according to a Toledo police report.

The victim was assaulted again Thursday morning in front of the school. More verbal and threatened physical confrontations took place inside the school until the suspects were removed by police, according to police.

“There was a fight the day before at dismissal time,” Ms. Kirtz said. “These students came into the building and had words with other students, and so we corralled them in.”