By MELISSA PEACOCK

RESERVE – An East St. John High School student caught by surveillance cameras fighting with a faculty member is facing alternative schooling or at least one semester of expulsion after the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board denied her appeal.

The surveillance video, taken from a camera in the gym, showed the juvenile wrestling with a coach while a group of students gathered to watch, said District 5 Board member Dowie L. Gendron.

“It wasn’t all perfectly clear, but we ran it over and over,” Gendron said. “There’s no disputing – the coach tried to restrain her. She was fighting and using a lot of foul language.”

According to District 1 representative Leroy Mitchell Sr., the student was caught by a faculty member participating in “horseplay.” When this staff member asked the student to go to the office, the event turned violent.

“She and some other students were involved in some horseplay – a water fight I think,” Mitchell said. “There was a physical attack as the coach tried to remove her to the office.”

Gendron said he did not know exactly how long the video was, but it was detailed enough to show just cause for expulsion.

“It (the presentation) concentrated on certain spots,” Gendron said. “It took a while because you could see the students rushing in.”

The board ruled in favor of East St. John Administrators. Two board members were absent from the recent meeting.

“To my recollection it was pretty unanimously upheld,” Gendron said. “I think it’s a one semester suspension that can be lifted with an early hearing.

“She can attend supervised alternative school.”