Overview
- In March 2026 a six-year-old first grader at Sara Harp Minter Elementary was suspended after biting his sandwich into the shape of a gun and pointing it at a classmate, according to school records obtained by reporters.
- Records reviewed by multiple outlets show the boy has faced at least 33 disciplinary events since 2023, including 14 suspensions for incidents ranging from drawing pictures to physical altercations.
- The family says school staff did not always follow his individualized education program, which included accommodations such as short walks when he became overstimulated, and they argue the sandwich incident should have been a teaching moment.
- The family has enlisted Donna Reynolds, a former special-education director, to represent them in meetings with Fayette County Schools, and the district’s superintendent has said the district is committed to continued discussions with parents but has not publicly reversed the punishment.
- The case highlights legal and practical tensions under federal special-education rules that require schools to consider disability-related behavior in discipline, and observers say the upcoming meetings will be key to whether the IEP is enforced and policies change.