Albert Lea school board expels student for 12 months after Snapchat message that caused districtwide fear

The Albert Lea Public School District Board of Education voted 6–0 on Oct. 14, 2025, to expel a student for 12 calendar months after hearing evidence that a Snapchat message attributed to the student was widely circulated and caused extensive fear and absences across district schools.

Board members adopted written findings of fact and conclusions that said the district met three statutory grounds for expulsion under the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act; the board also directed the superintendent to notify the Minnesota Department of Education and to identify alternative educational services the student may use during the expulsion period.

Administrators told the board the message in evidence referenced another student's family and suggested a school shooting could occur the next day. “I would encourage this board to expel the student for 12 calendar months,” the district’s representative told the board during closing argument. The administration said the message was initially sent to a single student, but testimony and exhibits showed iterations of the message were later shared widely among students, parents and community members.

Administrators and the principal testified that the message prompted a significant attendance impact the next day and required substantial staff time to respond. The administration stated that “over 50% of the district students” chose to be absent on Sept. 23, 2025; other witnesses described two- to three-hundred students leaving school that day and board members described wider community fear. The board’s deliberations referenced those attendance reports and the disruption to school operations as factors under district policy 506 (the district’s policy on student conduct and discipline).

During the hearing, the parties disputed whether portions of the screenshoted Snapchat exhibit had been edited after the fact or contained responses added by third parties; witnesses testified some lines were not authored by the student. The administration acknowledged the draft factual-basis letter was prepared “in consultation with the district’s legal counsel.” The board heard that police reports were not available for the hearing because the matter was still part of an open investigation.

In closed deliberations, several board members said their role was to apply district policy to the facts in the record. Director Nelson moved to accept the proposed findings of fact and conclusions and to exclude the student from district schools for 12 months; the motion was seconded by a fellow board member. After further procedural steps to reopen the public meeting, the board read and adopted a formal resolution that sets the expulsion effective Oct. 14, 2025, and states the student may apply for re-enrollment after Oct. 14, 2026.

The adopted resolution directs the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee to: mail the resolution and findings to the student and parent/guardian; identify alternative educational services available during the expulsion period; and submit an electronic report of the expulsion to the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education within 30 calendar days in accordance with Minnesota Statute section 121A.53. The board also noted that the written notice of proposed expulsion and the findings are private educational data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Board members and some community speakers emphasized the severity of threats to school safety and the disruption caused to students, staff and families districtwide; others and the student’s family questioned the authorship and fidelity of portions of the Snapchat screenshot admitted into evidence. The administration and the board repeatedly stated they limited their decision to the evidence in the hearing record.

The student identified in the hearing as Gemma was expelled by the board’s resolution. The superintendent is to notify the student’s family of the resolution and the findings and to outline available alternative educational services.

Votes at a glance: motion to adopt findings of fact and expel the student for 12 months—motion carried on a roll-call vote recorded as 6 in favor, 0 opposed. The district read the formal resolution into the record and completed a roll-call tally before adjourning.