By ANN ANDERSON

Register & Bee staff writer

DANVILLE, Va. - A George Washington High School student who was suspended for wearing a trench coat to school will have the suspension deleted from his records.

Interim school superintendent Sue Davis said GW sophomore Adam Canhn was not offered due process. The suspension will be removed from his records, following an investigation that included the Danville school system and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia.

Canhn was suspended on Sept. 15 for two days for wearing a trench coat that school officials labeled "Columbine apparel," in an apparent reference to the infamous 1999 school shootings in Columbine, Colo.

GW assistant principal Mel Martin also searched Canhn's personal belongings and said he violated the dress code and the student code of conduct, which prohibits intimidating dress and behavior. The next day, three other GW students wore trench coats to school in protest. They were sent home after parental conferences.

Davis said Canhn was justly suspended for not following Martin's directions to remove his trench coat and put it in his locker. But she said Canhn should have been notified of the inappropriate behavior and advised of the consequences.

"We need to always follow due process by notifying a child of wrong behavior and the consequences that will result from that behavior," Davis said. "Information needs to be provided and details are important."

Davis said Canhn's suspension referral form should not have listed "wearing Columbine apparel" as the reason for the suspension. Instead, the reason for the suspension should have been listed as not following the principal's directions to remove the coat, Davis said.

Contact Ann Anderson at aanderson@registerbee.com