THOUSAND OAKS : District Denies Return of 2 Students in Fight

Two Thousand Oaks High School seniors punished for getting in a fight with a boy who stabbed their friend achieved a minor victory Wednesday in their battle with school district officials, winning the privilege of getting a diploma from Thousand Oaks High School.

But the students’ appeal to return to school rather than finish their high school careers in independent study or at another high school was denied after a hearing Monday before district officials, parents said.

Chuck Knox, whose son Adam, 18, was involved in the May 4 brawl, said Wednesday that he is considering both legal and political action in order to get his son back to school.

“I think the school board has to be held responsible,” Knox said. “I thought that Thousand Oaks was a great place to raise your children. Now I don’t know.”

Lou Carpiac, a lawyer who is assisting the students and their parents in their battle with the district, said he plans to address the school board at its May 25 meeting.

Bob Sperry, whose son, William, 19, also was punished with an involuntary transfer in connection with the fight, said he too would not accept the decision.

“We’re not just going to let it lie,” Sperry said.

About 100 Thousand Oaks High School students skipped a class May 11 to protest the punishments, which they said were excessively harsh.

The involuntary transfers are less severe than expelling students from the district entirely and are reserved for students who are involved in an “aggressive, serious assault,” said Richard W. Simpson, assistant superintendent of instructional services for the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

Rick Coletta, 19, was stabbed in the neck with a woodcarving knife by a 17-year-old during the fight. The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of felony assault and released to his parents’ custody. Knox, Sperry and another student, who was also punished with an involuntary transfer, were arrested and cited for misdemeanor assault.