Gull Lake Community Schools expel student after Snapchat threat

The Gull Lake Community Schools Board of Trustees adopted a resolution Feb. 5, 2026, finding that a student posted a social-media threat on Snapchat on Jan. 11, 2026, and made retaliatory and threatening statements to other students, and the Board declared the student permanently expelled. Attorney Jennifer Starlin read the resolution before the Board voted to accept it in open session; the acceptance vote recorded four ayes (Mini Paulose-Murphy, Carole Mendez, Laura Zervic and Desiree LaDuke) and three members absent (Scott-Rhodes, Keene and John McCann, who left at 9:16 a.m.).

The resolution sets a process and conditions for any petitioned reinstatement. It states that the student may petition the Superintendent for possible reinstatement no sooner than 180 school days from the date of initial suspension (not sooner than Jan. 12, 2027), and before reinstatement must "demonstrate successful participation in an appropriate counseling program approved by the Superintendent; submit to the Superintendent competent and credible evidence from an appropriately licensed and credentialed professional that the Student does not pose a risk of harm to the Student or to others;" complete any recommended psychological or counseling reports; and show documented participation in educational instruction during the expulsion period.

The Board moved into closed session under the Michigan Open Meetings Act Section 8(1)(b), MCL 15.268(1)(b), at 8:02 a.m. to consider the student-discipline matter at the parent's request. Treasurer Laura Zervic moved the closed-session motion and Vice President Desiree LaDuke supported it; the closed-session motion passed with ayes recorded from LaDuke, Paulose-Murphy, McCann, Mendez and Zervic. The resolution itself records that the hearing afforded the student and the student’s representative the opportunity to respond and to present evidence, and that the Board "carefully considered all the evidence" before reaching its finding.

As part of the resolution the Board explicitly found by a preponderance of the evidence that the student had violated the Student Code of Conduct by the Snapchat post on Jan. 11, 2026. The resolution language, read aloud during the meeting, states: "A preponderance of the evidence establishes that on January 11, 2026, the Student posted a social media threat to Snapchat and made retaliatory and threatening statements to other students in violation of the Student Code of Conduct." Attorney Jennifer Starlin read that text as part of the proposed resolution.

Administrators were directed to meet promptly with the student’s parent to determine what educational services the student may be entitled to under state and federal law. The Board adjourned at 9:26 a.m.