Poll:
Do you think the school board should expel the boy who brought the pen-knife?
PHOENIX - An 11-year-old boy who accidentally took a small knife to class will not be expelled from school.
The school governing board heard from the student, 11-year-old Zane Champion, and from his mother before deliberating for about three hours.
Zane says, "It feels like I've matured a little just going through the whole process realizing that I have a lot to be thankful for being at this school and just having my family to be able to do this for me."
His parents tell 3TV the school's zero tolerance policy Is just not fair. The controversy surrounded a two-inch pen knife that the 5th-grader took to class.
His mother tells 3TV, "No one's safety was ever at risk in this situation, which is what allowed them to make the decision I think that they made which, of course, I think was the right decision because it's my son and I know he's a good kid."
Zane was suspended from school two weeks ago. His administrators at Arizona School for the Arts ordered the five-day suspension after he accidentally took the knife to school.
Zane's dad gave it to him while he was visiting him in Cottonwood and a student reported it to a teacher. The school allegedly told Zane they knew he brought the knife by accident but it has a zero tolerance policy for weapons.
Parents and students held a rally on Tuesday in support of Zane. He received two days of in-school suspension.
