This academic year, until March 30, in St. Mary’s County Public Schools there were two suspensions cases – each related to drug pushing and sexual assault – and almost 50 cases related to “other guns” and “other weapons,” a report obtained by The Bay Net from the St. Mary’s County Public Schools shows.

Additionally, possession of alcohol led to ten suspensions; possession of drugs led to 15 suspensions; bomb threats led to six suspensions; bullying led to 16 suspensions; sexual harassment led to 19 suspensions; and physical attacks on teachers and staff led to 24 suspensions.

An initial report to the Directorate of Pupil Services by Great Mills High School and Leonardtown Elementary School showed there was one suspension each related to firearms at Great Mills High School and Leonardtown Elementary School.

However, when Kathleen Lyon, director of pupil services, double-checked she found those two incidents were not properly reported.

“Both of those firearms were misquoted,” Lyon said. She said in Great Mills it was a case of insubordination. “The Leonardtown Elementary one is a cap gun. That’s called an other gun, that’s not a firearm,” Lyon explained.

Possession of firearms in schools remains the most serious threat, by far.

Lyon recalled there were two cases of firearm possession during the last five years. “In both cases the intent was to gain attention. Kind of show off a little bit,” Lyon explained. The two schools in question were Esperanza Middle School and Oakville Elementary School.

Lyon said in firearm cases students mostly bring in the hunting guns their parents forget to take out from their hunting bags.

“Things like BB guns, look alike guns, air guns, that kind of stuff fall under the description of ‘Other Guns,’” Lyon said. In 2006, there were six cases of ‘other guns,’ in 2005 there were five cases, and this year – until March 30 – there were four cases.

Lyon said in the case of firearms and other guns, the disciplinary procedure is drastic and tough. There are not many repeat offenders. “Usually, the first time is enough [for the delinquent]. They know the discipline would be even more severe the second time,” she said.

“An automatic expulsion comes from firearms,” Lyon said, adding the expulsion order remains in force for a year.

Last year five schools from St. Mary’s were among the 108 recognized statewide for bringing down their suspension rates as part of what is called Positive Behavioral and Intervention Support Program. The schools were Esperanza Middle, Greenview Knolls Elementary, Lexington Park Elementary, Park Hall Elementary and Town Creek Elementary schools.

According to Lyon’s preliminary data, as many as 1,911 students were suspended until March 30, but the pupil services director heaved a sigh of relief that the graph was lower compared to last year’s.

The new charter school might help bring down this dangerous data; Lyon is regarded by the charter school families as one of their main supporters in the public school system.

Like in all past years Great Mills High School, established in 1929, topped the list in overall suspensions with 439. It was followed by Leonardtown High School with 235 suspensions, while the third position was shared by Chopticon High School and Spring Ridge Middle