Island Montessori School in Sarasota ousted a well-behaved and thriving student through no fault of his own.

One big advantage for tax-supported charter school is that they need not follow the many rules that public schools are bound by.

But that is also a big disadvantage, as Jeff and Jennifer Buck just learned this the hard way.

Unfortunately, they say, it is their second-grader, Cooper, who is being hurt.

The Bucks have been major fans, volunteers and fundraising supporters of the Island Village Montessori School ever since they first sent their son to its Clark Road campus for kindergarten. The charter school’s campus is just outside Myakka River State Park.

But with second grade barely underway this year, the Bucks were told via email that Cooper, a well-behaved and thriving student who also loves the school, had been suddenly ousted through no fault of his own.

It was done without a hint of due process or so much as a warning. Technically, it was called a reassignment, a word that just does not fit the facts. The kid was given the boot.

The reason: Shortly after school started this year, his parents sought a meeting between parents and administrators about some unexpected new rules and decisions. In the process they stepped on some toes during email exchanges between parents. Things got a bit snippy. The claim is that the messages were abrasive and at least one parent “felt threatened.”

I’ve read the emailed words and that just doesn’t make much sense to me. And a large group of parents, including former Sarasota mayor/commissioner Kelly Kirschner, have spoken up for the couple.

But the Bucks had also asked questions and did a public records request to look into this summer’s lightning-quick hiring process that chose a new principal from out of state. Maybe that was the real taboo.

Such things would never be grounds for taking action against any child in a public school. It would be a flaming violation of the child’s rights. I’m a little amazed that kicking a kid out of a tax-supported charter school is an option without some sort of meeting to discuss it, at least.

The school’s director, Jennifer Ocana, said she had never dealt with such a matter before. She outranks the principal that she helped hire, and also oversees the school’s Venice campus, but told me she is new to the job.

Ocana said at least one parent felt upset and afraid of Jeff Buck after the email exchange about school rules in part because the Bucks are advocates of carrying firearms for self defense.

The Bucks seem flabbergasted at that.

Ocana says she got advice on the decision from the president of the charter school’s board of directors.

Actually what she said was this: “It was his decision.”

Ocana told me she feels bad about Cooper, who is a good kid and a good student.

Something happened a few minutes later when I asked her if Cooper’s spot had been filled yet. It had only been a few days, but the school’s website says it has a waiting list. Ocana said she thought she would keep the spot open for a while.

When I asked why, she said she wanted to give the matter some thought. The next day I got an email from her.

"Our Parent Liaison on the Board of Directors will be reaching out to the Bucks to set up a meeting to discuss these issues and what the possibilities are moving forward," Ocana wrote.

I passed the news to the Bucks, who said they were glad but wished they had gotten such news days ago, before Cooper heard about the previous news from a schoolmate visiting their house. The second-grader has had trouble understanding why he has to leave his school.

But after a pep talk and welcome words from some kids he knows who go to a nearby public school, Cooper changed gears well and had gone off to the new public school that morning with a good attitude.

“He’s an amazing kid,” his father said.

The couple still wants to hear what the charter school has to say, but the situation has stung them and it could be hard to decide what to do now that Cooper has started at a new school.

“It seems that they can use words like 'reassignment,' rather than expulsion and avoid laws designed to protect students,” the Bucks wrote in an email. “Our son has never had any disciplinary issues, or any issue for that matter. He is an exemplary student and friend to the community.”

They also think they were being good parents and just looking out for the school.

But at a charter school, anyone’s opinion to the contrary can get your and your child kicked out quick, they now know.

— Tom Lyons can be contacted at tom.lyons@heraldtribune.com