Girl who brought knife to school has punishment reduced

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. - A Michigan high school honor student who was initially told she would be expelled after being caught with a pocket knife at school, has had her punishment reduced, reports CBS Detroit.

Instead of being expelled, Atiya Haynes, a 17-year-old senior at Annapolis High School, will be suspended through the end of the school year. But, still, she says she doesn't believe the punishment fits the crime, according to the station.

The decision was made Monday by the Dearborn Heights Board of Education, who heard the case after Haynes, who was backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, appealed the school's decision to expel her.

Haines claims she didn't even realize she was carrying the weapon, which was given to her by her grandfather who was concerned for her safety in her Detroit neighborhood.

Haynes told CBS Detroit's radio affiliate she had thrown the 3.25-inch knife into the bottom of her purse, where it remained for months before it was discovered during a search at a Sept. 26 school football game.

Michigan state law has a zero tolerance policy for weapons on school grounds.

As part of the board of education's ruling, Haynes will be allowed to enroll in online classes so she can graduate with her classmates in 2015.

Haynes and her immigrant parents were hoping board members would change their minds altogether and allow her to return to class. Haynes' mother told reporters that the family is now considering enrolling their daughter in private school.