Full Breakdown
Student’s Coffee Protest Highlights Open Meeting Law Issues in Upstate New York School District
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Suspension Over a Coffee Cup
On the first day of classes, high-school senior Julie Kaputa entered her first-period classroom at Beaver River Central School with a cup of coffee. When her teacher demanded she discard the drink, consume it immediately, or go to the office, Kaputa refused and was placed on in-school suspension. She described the act as a pre-planned “civil disobedience” aimed at challenging the district’s newly adopted food-and-drink restriction.
Background & Context: New Code of Conduct and Open Meeting Requirements
In early August the school board voted to amend the district’s Code of Conduct to ban outside food and beverages. New York State Education Department (NYSED) law requires a separate public hearing before such a policy change can take effect. Kaputa’s research showed the board had not posted minutes from three prior meetings and had not announced a distinct public hearing, suggesting a breach of the state’s Open Meeting Law.
Timeline of Key Developments
- August 10 – Revised Code of Conduct appeared on the board agenda without clear indication of the changes.
- Early September (first day of classes) – Kaputa brought coffee to class, was suspended, and posted a Facebook explanation of her intent.
- September 9 – Deadline for public comments; Kaputa noted the district had not properly advertised the upcoming hearing.
- September 14 (scheduled) – District posted a retroactive public hearing at 6 p.m. to address the procedural lapse and announced a student-teacher committee to review the beverage policy.
Official Statements & Responses
Superintendent Todd Green told reporters the August board meeting was intended to serve as the public hearing but lacked the explicit label, potentially limiting community awareness. He emphasized the rule was designed to maintain a distraction-free, safe learning environment. After the incident, the district updated its website with the missing minutes, created a committee to examine the policy language, and scheduled the September 14 hearing to correct the oversight.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I walked in, I had my coffee with me. I got to my first period class and my teacher said, ‘I’m either going to need you to dump that out or consume it on the spot or go down to the office,’” — Julie Kaputa
- “I felt strongly that the administration was acting outside their purview as, without a Public Hearing, students, parents, and teachers did not have a chance to voice their opinions prior to the adoption of the new code. NYSED law agrees with this sentiment,” — Julie Kaputa
- “Because we hold ourselves to the highest standard of compliance, we are correcting this administrative detail,” — Superintendent Todd Green
What’s Next
The district’s retroactive public hearing is set for September 14 at 6 p.m., where community members may comment on the revised Code of Conduct. The outcome will determine whether the beverage restriction remains in force or is further amended.