(March 28, 2006) -- After a second day in which roughly 1,000+ LBUSD High School and Middle School students (out of roughly 93,000 total students) chose not to attend classes to protest federal immigration legislation, LBUSD indicates that students who persist in such behavior will face increasingly severe consequences.

In a March 28 letter to parents posted on LBUSD's website (page link below), Superintendent Chris Steinhauser says in part:

LBUSD spokesman Chris Eftychiou indicated to LBReport.com that if a student wasn't in school and doesn't have an appropriate explanatory note, the student will be considered truant...part of a procedure that may escalate to a court appearance with parents...and could even involve community service.

Students who engage in acts of defiance (such as refusing to go to class) may face suspension at the discretion of individual school principals, Mr. Eftychiou said. [Expulsion is reserved for extremely serious offenses such as bringing a weapon onto campus.]

"The key point is that students will face increasingly severe consequences," Mr. Eftychiou said.

Roughly 1,200 students were involved in today's protests, Mr. Eftychiou said. Schools utilized a "perimeter lock down" in which students could move around on campus while entry and exit to the school were secured.

There will be additional adult supervision at LBUSD High Schools for the remainder of the week, Mr. Eftychiou said.

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