Now that the 2025–26 school year has begun, our office is once again preparing to represent students and families in school expulsion hearings. Attorney James Snell’s experience in this area began years ago when he was asked to represent an honor roll student at an area high school who was recommended for expulsion after her father accidentally left a toolbox in her car. That case underscored the need for accessible legal representation in school discipline matters. Since then, our firm has represented hundreds of students across Lexington One and surrounding school districts.
This article focuses specifically on the expulsion process in Lexington District One. While other area districts have similar procedures, they may differ in some details. If your child has been recommended for expulsion from any school in the Lexington or Columbia area, we invite you to call our office for a free consultation at (803) 359-3301. Same-day appointments are usually available.
Lexington District One serves Lexington High School, River Bluff High School, White Knoll, Pelion High School, and Gilbert High School, as well as the elementary and middle schools that feed into these high schools. Students from any of these schools can be recommended for expulsion, even with no prior disciplinary history. Common allegations leading to expulsion recommendations include possession of vape devices, alcohol, or drugs; making school threats (including social media posts or jokes); sexual harassment; fighting; theft or vandalism; weapons violations; and having prohibited items in a vehicle.
Parents are usually first informed of an expulsion recommendation through a call from the school, followed by written notice. It’s important to seek legal guidance immediately once you are notified. While the recommendation comes from your child’s school, the final decision is made by administrators at the district level. This is the same process for students recommended for expulsion from elementary, middle and high schools.
To challenge an expulsion recommendation, a written request for a hearing must be submitted. When we represent students, our office handles this request on their behalf. A hearing is typically scheduled within 10 to 15 days and takes place before a district hearing officer at the Lexington District One main office, located at 100 Tarrar Springs Road in Lexington.
In preparation, we also request a copy of the school’s expulsion packet. This includes a summary of the allegations, written witness statements, and your child’s academic and disciplinary records, often pulled from the PowerSchool system. Reviewing these materials in advance allows us to prepare you and your child for the hearing. If necessary, we conduct our own investigation using licensed defense investigators.
Before the hearing, we schedule a follow-up meeting with your family to review the packet, address inconsistencies, and answer your questions. We also help your child practice responding to potential questions. The hearing officer often knows little or nothing about your student beyond the incident, so we focus on presenting a complete picture of who your child is—emphasizing their character, interests, and achievements.
The hearing takes place in a conference room on the second floor of the district office. Attendees typically include the student, parents, legal counsel, and any additional supporters. A school representative presents the case, usually by reading directly from the expulsion packet. Hearsay evidence is permitted, and witnesses are not required to appear. The hearing officer will also review any support letters submitted on behalf of the student.
Hearings follow a consistent structure. The officer begins by starting a recording and introducing all participants. The school representative then presents the school’s case. Afterward, legal counsel, the student, and their family may ask questions or provide additional information. Finally, the student is given an opportunity to speak directly about the incident and themselves.
Once all parties have been heard, the hearing officer will explain the possible outcomes. In Lexington One, there are four: a dismissal of the case with finding that no rule violation occurred, returning to school under a probationary period, assignment to the alternative school for a specified time, or full expulsion from the district. The hearing officer typically does not announce a decision at the hearing. Instead, they have up to 10 days to issue a written decision.
If the outcome of the initial hearing is unacceptable, Lexington One offers two levels of appellate review. This includes to the hearing appeal officer, and finally to the director of student services. We can also assist with these appeals as necessary. It's important to get the best outcome from the first hearing, but in many situations if there is additional help needed it can be possible through the district's appeal process. Most expulsion hearings are not eligible to be appealed beyond the district office into court due to limitations imposed by South Carolina state law.
Legal counsel experienced in expulsion defense can make a significant difference by ensuring proper preparation and helping families understand all options. If your child is facing expulsion, we are here to help.
Call the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC today at (803) 359-3301 to schedule your free consultation for school expulsion defense. Same-day appointments are usually available, and we can begin work on your case immediately.