Board gives apology to area veteran

CELINA - School board president Carl Huber issued an apology on Friday to veteran Janice Holdheide after she had been interrupted at March's school board meeting.

Holdheide started to speak during the public comment section of the March 11 board meeting to support eighth-grader Tyler Carlin. The student served a three-day, in-school suspension after creating a history-class project that included a NERF gun painted black. The project, a battlefield cross replica including child-sized boots, the NERF gun and a helmet, was intended as a memorial for veterans.

Huber had interrupted Holdheide, saying she was not allowed to speak on that specific incident.

"The board does not feel it is appropriate to discuss any student's disciplinary action in a public meeting without prior consent from the student, the student's parents or guardian," Huber wrote in the apology letter.

Huber had asked her to exit the stage but not the meeting, but Holdheide left.

"I had intended to invite you into executive session so you could continue your statement, as I did with the Celina Education Association members, but you had already left the meeting," he wrote.

Holdheide provided the board with a copy of intended comments. She was looking to share a positive statement regarding veterans and the sacrifices they have made, along with her personal feelings about the meaning of military memorials, Huber wrote.

"We do appreciate the service you gave to our great country and am truly sorry for making you feel that we were not appreciative of your and others' sacrifices," he continued. "As a school district, we will continue to show respect for our veterans and the veteran associations and take pride in the relationships we have developed with veterans and the American Legion and VFW over many years."

Holdheide told the newspaper she accepted the board's apology.

Attorney Travis Faber, who represents the Carlin family, has said Tyler had told teacher Ryan Spriggs that he wanted to use an airsoft gun as part of the project.

Spriggs granted him permission to proceed with the project but told him not to use an airsoft gun due to a recent incident involving a high school junior who had displayed one in a social media post warning students not to come to class the next day, Faber has said.

Faber has said he does not believe Tyler had asked Spriggs if he could use a NERF gun instead. In an interview televised on WRGT-TV, Tyler said he had not told Spriggs of his plans to do so.

Tyler was disciplined on March 5 for disruption and bringing something to school resembling a dangerous weapon, according to information from Faber. District officials later changed their stated reason for suspension to "insubordination," Faber has said.

Rules in the student handbook forbid students from possessing, using, transmitting, concealing or handling any object that might be considered dangerous, including look-alike weapons.

District officials have said they cannot speak about the situation without permission from the family. Faber has said he has notified the district's attorney that the family would consider each piece of information district officials want to release individually.