NEW ULM — The District 88 School Board convened for a special meeting Monday to consider the expulsion of a student from the district.

The school board voted unanimously 6-0 on the resolution to expel the student from the school district effective immediately. Board member Steve Gag was absent.

The student attended New Ulm High School and was allegedly selling and distributing illegal substances, Superintendent Jeff Bertrang said. He did not specify what the substances were, but said later is was not illegal drugs.

Prior to the expulsion, the student was placed on suspension and considered for expulsion in accordance with the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act.

The student and his parent were then served with a written notice of the school district’s intent to initiate the expulsion proceedings.

On Jan. 8, the student then appeared before a committee comprised of board members and the superintendent. The committee further recommended the student for expulsion and the full school board moved to vote on the resolution.

Bertrang said these proceedings are in accordance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act and begin with suspensions and further investigations into the violation.

“We never want to do that,” Bertrang said. “But sometimes they force your hand based on what they do. We have policies for a reason to keep things clean — keep things safe for everybody.”

Bertrang said the school district can’t afford to “look the other way” on cases such as the expulsion. He said the district must act on all violations of policies and the law.

“We have to kind of stick to it — where our policies are,” he said.

In accordance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, the school board has described and recommended alternative educational programs to the student.

Bertrang said the school district is still going to work with the student by providing recommendations and alternative routes for their education.

“We just want to make sure that the student involved can find a place to go and get the education he needs,” he said.

The next regular board meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in the district boardroom at the middle school.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.