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Student's father files lawsuit over suspension
BY CHRISTINA [email protected]
February 14, 2008
The father of a Ward Melville High School senior has filed suit in State Supreme Court contending the Three Village school district unfairly and improperly suspended his son.
Aaron Urso, 17, a member of the school's baseball team, was suspended in November for the remainder of the school year after using abusive language toward a teacher, Todd Kettler, and allegedly threatening him.
The suit, filed at the end of January, is an appeal of what the suit calls an "arbitrary and capricious" suspension, said Edward L. King, Urso's Long Beach attorney. A court date has been set for Tuesday.
On Sept. 28, Urso stood in a school hallway and waved to a student in Kettler's class, according to a report by the hearing officer who recommended the suspension. When Kettler opened the door to confront Urso, the door hit Urso, who became confrontational and "directed very obscene language toward the teacher that included threats to do him physical harm," the report said.
Urso was found guilty of insubordination and using abusive and threatening language toward a teacher, the document said.
Joseph Urso, Aaron's father, admitted that his son used "foul language" and "poor judgment" in addressing the teacher, but said his son did not threaten Kettler.
The father alleged that the Three Village district did not follow its own code of conduct because, he said, his son did not have an informal conference with the principal and an initial suspension in October was issued improperly, among other reasons.
In a statement, Three Village Superintendent Frank Carasiti said: "We maintain that all aspects of this matter were conducted in conformance to the law, and we believe the subsequent legal claim is without merit."
Joseph Urso said his son's chances of receiving a college athletic scholarship hinge on having a chance to play as an outfielder and pitcher this spring. "He's learning a very hard lesson at a very unfair price," the father said. "I do believe that the punishment doesn't fit the crime."
According to the hearing officer's report, Aaron Urso had four disciplinary incidents in his sophomore and junior years, at least two of which resulted in suspension.
Joseph Urso said the incidents were not significant and that his son earned high grades in school and does volunteer work.
BY CHRISTINA [email protected]
February 14, 2008
The father of a Ward Melville High School senior has filed suit in State Supreme Court contending the Three Village school district unfairly and improperly suspended his son.
Aaron Urso, 17, a member of the school's baseball team, was suspended in November for the remainder of the school year after using abusive language toward a teacher, Todd Kettler, and allegedly threatening him.
The suit, filed at the end of January, is an appeal of what the suit calls an "arbitrary and capricious" suspension, said Edward L. King, Urso's Long Beach attorney. A court date has been set for Tuesday.
On Sept. 28, Urso stood in a school hallway and waved to a student in Kettler's class, according to a report by the hearing officer who recommended the suspension. When Kettler opened the door to confront Urso, the door hit Urso, who became confrontational and "directed very obscene language toward the teacher that included threats to do him physical harm," the report said.
Urso was found guilty of insubordination and using abusive and threatening language toward a teacher, the document said.
Joseph Urso, Aaron's father, admitted that his son used "foul language" and "poor judgment" in addressing the teacher, but said his son did not threaten Kettler.
The father alleged that the Three Village district did not follow its own code of conduct because, he said, his son did not have an informal conference with the principal and an initial suspension in October was issued improperly, among other reasons.
In a statement, Three Village Superintendent Frank Carasiti said: "We maintain that all aspects of this matter were conducted in conformance to the law, and we believe the subsequent legal claim is without merit."
Joseph Urso said his son's chances of receiving a college athletic scholarship hinge on having a chance to play as an outfielder and pitcher this spring. "He's learning a very hard lesson at a very unfair price," the father said. "I do believe that the punishment doesn't fit the crime."
According to the hearing officer's report, Aaron Urso had four disciplinary incidents in his sophomore and junior years, at least two of which resulted in suspension.
Joseph Urso said the incidents were not significant and that his son earned high grades in school and does volunteer work.
