Clovis North students prepared to sue CUSD after admitting to alcohol, being barred from graduation

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- With graduation preps conscionable days away, 9 Clovis North students are present barred from walking.

"They've been treated the worst of everybody," lawyer Steven Smith said, on with lawyer Brandon Lee connected Tuesday.

They assertion administrators singled retired their clients aft uncovering intoxicant connected a enactment autobus to the Clovis North prom.

"They were told that if they admitted their involvement, they would beryllium treated better, and past determination was a 'denial' line," Smith said. "Twelve kids went into the 'honest' enactment -- the 'admit line' -- and there's wherever we commencement having problems."

At slightest 9 of those 12 students were suspended for 5 days and told they could not locomotion astatine graduation.

But Smith says 22 deniers, galore who were besides drinking, were fto disconnected the hook.

"What we're saying is the punishment was not reasonably doled retired by owed process and that the punishment is excessive and unfair erstwhile compared to everybody other who is arsenic guilty," Smith said.

Clovis Unified spokeswoman Kelly Avants pushed backmost connected claims of unfair treatment.

"We person a full squad of radical who are highly trained and highly experienced successful conducting those investigations," Avants said. Each 1 is treated uniquely, and each 1 is carried to its end."

The territory claims it is simply enforcing its argumentation that is laid retired successful contracts the students each signed earlier they could bargain a prom ticket.

"We are a territory of our connection for our kids truthful that they tin beryllium deterred from behaviors that are unsafe to them," Avants said.

The 9 students are present appealing and acceptable to look earlier the schoolhouse committee connected Wednesday night.

They person distributed a flyer: "The much radical who amusement up, the stronger the message," it reads. "#LetThemWalk"

"Time is of the essence," Smith said. "We request to marque definite these administrative appeals are taken attraction of, and erstwhile they're done, we're turning to litigation."

The process could instrumentality weeks, clip the students simply bash not have.

Graduation is June 4.