Instead, Rios said, she was suspended that day and sent to a district hearing last week. Despite letters of support from her teachers and her employer, she was assigned to Metro Opportunity School for six weeks. She said she is appealing the decision to Superintendent Thomas Tocco. If Tocco upholds the suspension, Rios probably will appeal it to the school board and possibly to court, said her stepmother, Erlinda Rios. When someone commits a crime, they consider the facts of the case.
Criminals have more rights than our children do.
Veronica Rios said she fears that she'll miss classwork in her advanced placement courses while attending the alternative school, which offers only basic classes. But she is gratified that her classmates have rallied behind her. But just to know everybody is supporting me is great. Perla Ladinos, one of Rios' friends who passed out black armbands at school Tuesday, said she hopes that the protest will grow as more students learn about it. Perkins said some students also plan to speak at next week's school board meeting.