Local News

Lawyer says Pine Richland School District has 'very limited' ability to discipline student over homecoming sign

By Patrick Damp

September 24, 2022 / 9:46 AM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

Pine Richland's discipline for homecoming sign limited

GIBSONIA, Pa. (KDKA) - There's now more legal wrangling over a racist homecoming sign shared on social media by a Pine Richland student.

A Pennsylvania School Boards Association lawyer said the school district has a very limited ability to discipline the student for off-campus behavior due to First Amendment protections.

There are exceptions; including serious threats or conduct that causes a significant disruption.

After the photo was shared, the district said it was taking appropriate steps but did not say what those steps were.

Allegheny County

Patrick Damp

Patrick Damp is a web producer for CBS Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh native who grew up watching KDKA-TV, Patrick studied journalism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After half a decade in sports communication, Patrick decided to pursue his dream of working in journalism in his hometown and joined the CBS Pittsburgh team in 2019.