Student who spanked teacher reinstated

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1998 | 10:08 a.m.

A senior who was expelled for spanking a Rancho High School teacher last year learned Wednesday night that his expulsion will be lifted by the School Board.

"And they told me that I had been recommended for a music scholarship to UNR," said a jubilant Joe Dotson, 17, who has aspirations of becoming a music teacher.

The recommendation, he said, came from his principal, band teacher and dean of students.

Though Dotson is being allowed to return to regular classes, it will not be at the school he attended for 3 1/2 years. He said he will be going to Eldorado High School, which is all right with him because it has a music department.

Horizon East, an alternative school he has been attending since Jan. 1, does not have a music program.

"They just offer the basics to help you graduate," Dotson said.

He thought his aspiration to pursue a music career had become an impossible dream Nov. 23 when he picked up one of his teachers and spanked her, in what he said was nothing more than "horseplay."

Dotson was expelled a few days later, after the teacher filed a complaint.

"She kids around with all the kids," said Dotson, who appeared at the closed board meeting with his parents, J.D. and Jennifer Dotson.

According to the Dotsons, their son did not harm the teacher, who also appeared at the board meeting but declined comment, nor did he intend to.

"The police investigated and said there was no case," Jennifer Dotson said.

The teacher, however, signed a complaint with the school district, complaining the teenager committed battery when he spanked her.

The Dotsons credited Margo Russell, who teaches government at Rancho, with persuading the School Board to give their son another chance in a regular school setting.

"She was wonderful," Jennifer Dotson said.

Russell said before going into the closed meeting she felt compelled to speak on the student's behalf because there was no one else there to speak up for the family.

"I didn't want it to be a kangaroo court," she said.

Russell, in her prepared statement to the board, said Dotson deserves a chance to pursue his musical goals "and reap the benefit of his hard work."

"Joe has potential to do something with his life and to share his gift," she said in the statement. "I implore you in the name of all fairness not to punish this young man for a childish act."

Russell said she felt expulsion was too severe a punishment for what Dotson did.

"The punishment should fit the crime. He didn't kill anybody. Where's the body?" she asked.