Lawmakers Considering Bill to Mandate Schools Expel Students who Make Death Threats to a Teacher

State lawmakers are considering legislation to mandate school expulsion for students that make death threats to teachers.

Under the bill, students in grade six or above could be permanently expelled for making verbal death threats against a teacher.

Former Grand Rapids area teacher, Diane Jelki, is supporting the legislation.

She says she was threatened by a student, but her district didn’t do anything. She says she feared going to work for two years because of the threats.

But Rod Motts of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan doesn’t like the bill.

He says school districts should be allowed to make expulsion and suspension decisions on a case by case basis.

The measure is in a Senate committee.