The Minnesota legislator representing Wells has thrown in her support for the 17-year-old United South Central student expelled last month for accidentally bringing a pocket knife to school.

District 27A Rep. Shannon Savick, DFL-Wells, sent a letter on Friday to Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius, asking her to overturn the expulsion of Alyssa Drescher.

“There is no question that weapons are a serious issue and should not be treated lightly,” Savick wrote. “In this instance, however, it’s clear that the punishment for Miss Drescher’s actions is misplaced.”

She asked Cassellius to take into account the full context of Drescher’s actions when considering her appeal.

The United South Central school board on April 24 voted to expel Drescher for the remainder of the school year after an expulsion hearing that lasted 3 1/2 hours, including testimony and closed deliberations. Authorities found the knife in her purse during a random drug search at the school April 15. Drescher said she accidentally left the knife in her purse after cutting hay bales at her boyfriend’s home a few days prior.

She had no prior disciplinary action at the school.

Savick noted the support Drescher received from the community and others across the state and nation.

The letter followed one sent by a group of 23 Republican senators supporting Drescher the week prior.