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In a case that spurred uncommon community interest, Madison School Board members voted Thursday to expel a sixth-grader who allegedly brought a BB gun to Cherokee Heights Middle School, but with immediate reinstatement possible.

Nick Gansner, an attorney for 12-year-old Dereian Brown, said he hopes that means the boy will miss only an additional day or two while the process moves forward. Dereian already served a 15-day suspension.

He had returned to school awaiting Thursday’s expulsion decision.

In ruling as they did, board members eased off on recommendations from an independent hearing examiner and from district administrators.

The hearing examiner suggested early reinstatement at the start of the second semester Jan. 25; district administrators sought reinstatement no sooner than summer school.

Gansner said that while he and Dereian’s family appreciate that the length of the expulsion was reduced, they are “extremely disappointed” that the board upheld the expulsion recommendation. They believe there was scant evidence to prove Dereian even had a BB gun at school.

“We will speak with Dereian about pursuing appeal options to help him get this unfair expulsion off of his permanent record,” Gansner said.