A Palatine High School student who was expelled for keeping pictures of weapons in his locker returned to classes Monday.
Patrick Bryant, a 16-year-old junior, had been attending an alternative high school since February 2001. But a Cook County Circuit judge overturned the expulsion Feb. 1.
That did not lead to Bryant’s immediate return because the judge gave the district time to consider the ruling. On Thursday the District 211 Board of Education decided to allow him to return to Palatine High.
A district official said the family was informed Friday, but he had little else to say about the decision. “We’re just following the judge’s direction,” Associate Supt. Bob Rozycki said.
Thomas Bryant, the student’s father, said he was pleased to see his son return to school without any restrictions. However, he said he is looking into possible legal action against the district.
“I’m investigating the situation, but I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “I do feel his civil rights were violated–at every turn he was guilty until proven innocent.
“He’s back, everything’s fine, and everybody acts like nothing happened,” he said. “But they took a year of his high school life, and he’ll never get that year back.”
