In response to “Coupeville schools mum on bus incident,” in the Nov. 11 Whidbey News-Times:

As a parent of four children in the Coupeville district and one that graduated from CHS, let me state my frustration with the “HUSH, HUSH” attitude from most of the administrators when dealing with almost every incident involving student safety. The issues dealing with problem students are kept quiet because the problem student’s right to privacy outweighs the majority of the students right to safety.

The “box cutter” student was back on the bus in about a week. I only know this because my son who witnessed the incident told me the student was back on the bus. Makes me furious that the administrators did not enforce their own policy as written. Coupeville School District Transportation Policy states, “Exceptional misconduct will result in suspension of all bus privileges for remainder of school year, including activities and field trips.” If second-degree assault is not considered exceptional misconduct then the district needs to explain to the parents what exceptional misconduct is. Must we wait for a vital organ to be severed instead of a knee?

Superintendent Page, set the example and ensure you send the message loud and clear. This student and any student that has violated the “Dangerous Weapon Regulation – Policy No. 4210” in the Coupeville Student Handbook has no right to be on the bus and should be suspended for the remainder of the school year. Parents and guardians of problem students (you know who you are), get involved and correct these problems at home so the problems are not manifested in our public school system. You as a parent can still invoke discipline far greater and more effective than the public school system.

Finally, I am still thrilled to have my kids part of this school and community even though I am less thrilled with the school district leadership’s inability and failure to properly notify parents when something like this happens. Remember what I said at the board meeting. If our kids act up in school call my wife and I, and be assured the issue will be fixed!

Larry Rosenthal

Coupeville