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A New York high school senior is challenging her school district after being suspended for bringing coffee to class on the first day of school.
Julie Kaputa, an honors student at Beaver River Central School, was handed an in-school suspension on September 3 for violating the school’s new policy banning outside food and drinks. When she arrived in her first-period class with a cup of coffee, her teacher told her to either finish it immediately, dispose of it, or go to the office.
The recently introduced rule, part of the district’s 2026-2027 Standards for Community-Wide Conduct, aims to create a safe, distraction-free environment and protect students with food allergies. According to the policy, students must finish any outside food or beverages before entering school.
However, Julie and her mother, MaryAnne Kaputa, argue that the policy was improperly adopted, claiming no public hearing was held as required by law. They expressed concerns over the lack of transparency, noting that meeting minutes discussing the code were not made available until after the incident. MaryAnne took to social media to ask other parents if they had heard of any public hearings on the matter.
Superintendent Todd Green acknowledged that although a board meeting in August served as a public hearing, it was not adequately publicized. He praised Julie for standing up for her beliefs and committed to addressing any procedural shortcomings. Green emphasized the district’s intent to maintain a calm and equitable learning environment while adhering to open meeting laws.
Following the challenge, Julie was allowed to return to class with her coffee. Both mother and daughter expressed appreciation for the school’s willingness to listen, though they remain focused on ensuring proper procedures are followed moving forward.
A new public hearing is scheduled for Monday, during which students will be invited to provide input on revising the code of conduct to better balance administrator and student concerns. Julie noted that she holds no ill will toward the district, especially since her suspension will not appear on her permanent record, but she is determined to see clearer processes in place.