By Albert Lea Tribune and Associated Press

WELLS — The family of a high school junior in southern Minnesota who was expelled after a pocket knife was found in her locker will ask state officials to overturn her expulsion.

Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Drescher, a junior, was expelled for the rest of the school year by the United South Central school board in Wells.

Family attorney Chris Johnson said they will petition the state Department of Education, but he’s doubtful a decision would be made before the school year ends.

Twenty-three Republican senators last week sent a letter to United South Central Superintendent Jerry Jensen and the school board asking for a “common sense solution” that could allow Drescher to return to school and finish the year with her friends and classmates.

The letter indicated that state statute allows school boards some flexibility in their decisions as well as allowing an appeal to the commissioner of education.

The district has a zero-tolerance weapons policy that recommends a three- to five-day suspension and possible expulsion. The decision to expel came with the recommendation of USC Superintendent Jerry Jensen as part of a 3 1/2-hour meeting April 24. More than 50 people attended the girl’s open hearing.

Drescher said she accidentally left the pocket knife in her purse after doing chores two days before at her boyfriend’s farm. The knife was discovered during an unannounced locker search.

The knife had a 3-inch blade.