Dixfield high school student allowed to return to classroom after 10-day suspension

DIXFIELD — A Dirigo High School student who was suspended for 10 days has been allowed to return there under conditions set by Principal Kaelyne Thompson, Superintendent Pam Doyen said Wednesday.

District School Unit 56 board Administrators made this decision after an administrative session with students and their parents at the board meeting held at the high school on Tuesday.

The student and parent did not attend the board session on October 22. Doyen said the condition for returning to school was that they attend Tuesday’s session, which they did on Tuesday.

Doyen said the board will re-evaluate the situation at its Dec. 10 meeting.

On another matter, Doyen said high school senior Gage Lee and his mother, Heather Bishop, complained during the public comment period that Doyen did not allow Lee to use his senior photo, which showed him holding a shotgun in his yearbook photo.

Doyen said he did not respond to Lee and his mother during the public comment period, but spoke out after Directors Tina Courtway of Peru and Brad Dyer of Carthage said they thought the photo should be allowed.

“I responded to the board member’s comments that, as the investigator, I had determined that none of the senior photographs contained weapons, drugs or alcohol of any kind,” Doyen said.

“I love Gage; I respect Gage. I have no problem with him hunting, I hope he shares this photo with his family because it is such a beautiful photo. This is not something we would allow in the yearbook,” Doyen said.

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