Officials: Hunting Knife Found In Albert Gallatin Student's Car

The solicitor for the Albert Gallatin School District revealed new information Monday connected to the three-day suspension of a high school student found with hunting arrows in her car.

Solicitor Lee Price said in addition to the arrows, district officials also found a hunting knife in the car Jessica Cook drove to school.

The information was not made publicly known in November, when her father, Adolph Cook, first approached the board about the issue.

Cook said the arrows belonged to him and took full responsibility for leaving the weapons in the car, which someone spotted and alerted the school.

"It was my fault, because I used the car the night before for hunting," said Cook. "I took the bow and arrows out that were dangerous, but they say these are just as dangerous."

Cook again asked the board, as he did in November, that the suspension be expunged from his daughter's record. Neither the board nor administration expressed any intent to do so.

"Your daughter was not suspended for just arrows for a crossbow. There actually was a knife in the car," said Price at the regular board meeting Wednesday. "Three days' suspension is very fair."

"I'd like to have some answers from the board and the school district. I'd like to know the action needed to go forward," said Cook.

Addressing Jessica Cook's previous concern that the suspension could affect her acceptance to college, Price said the suspension is not a part of transcripts or submittals to a college.

Jessica Cook said during an executive session that she recently had been accepted into the college of her choice.