Native American Press/Ojibwe News

Bena woman questions Cass Lake school discipline

By Jeff Armstrong - February 8, 2002
The mother of a 9-year-old Cass Lake Elementary School student is rethinking her choice of educational venues after school officials attempted to impose an unusual discipline on the third grader.

Bena resident Lisa Beaulieu said principal Pamela Olson suspended her son from riding the bus for 10 days for refusing to turn off his CD player as instructed. But what angered Beaulieu was the principal's additional stipulation that the student pay $10 for an alternative bus fare and relinquish his recess time in order to clean up the school cafeteria and library for the duration of the suspension. The fine was to be earmarked for student services.

"I found it odd. I found it extreme," said Beaulieu. "I don't think the principal can actually charge someone for a ride."

Questioning the legality and propriety of the fee, Beaulieu wrote to Olson requesting that she put her prescribed penalty in writing.

"I still have not received a response," she said.

Olson was out of town and could not be reached for comment.

An elementary education major in college, Beaulieu also challenged the wisdom of denying a behaviorally challenged child the necessary outlet of physical activity.

"If you want to decrease a child's [inappropriate] behavior, you don't cut down his recreation time," the Leech Lake woman said.

Beaulieu's suspicions of Olson's motives were heightened by the principal's insistence that the boy bring the money to school in cash form. Instead, she made out a $10 money order to Olson, which the principal refused to accept.

"[Olson] didn't want anything that would lead to a paper trail. It's always her way or no way at all," said Beaulieu.

Cass Lake-Bena superintendent of schools Mike Novak, stressing that no money ever switched hands, said the principal's idea was a misplaced attempt at constructive discipline.

"What was being done was to work out a solution between the parent and the principal to teach the child responsibility for his actions," said Novak. "As is often the case, on paper it looks like a good idea, but when you look at it closer you realize it's not a good way to go."

However, this was not Beaulieu's first run-in with Olson. She said that when her children were being ruthlessly taunted by fellow students about the gender of Beaulieu's partner, Olson implied that the mother was responsible.

"What she was inferring is I should have thought more carefully before making a life choice," said Beaulieu. "It's her obligation as a principal to work with people, but her arrogance prevents that. She goes way beyond her boundaries as a principal when she tries to tell me how to live my life or discipline my children."

Novak said the district would investigate any formal complaint of harassing behavior, saying such actions would be contrary to its policy on sexual harassment.