BLUE EARTH — An investigation of the Blue Earth Area school district’s disciplinary actions following an alleged assault has found no wrongdoing.

In October 2017, four students reportedly assaulted a fellow student at a party in Winnebago, resulting in bruising and swelling to his face, as well as a concussion.

While the students have yet to face trial, they were suspended from school for 10 days in November while an investigation took place within the district. Following the investigation, they were made ineligible to play or practice in sports, or be involved in leadership roles in school. Two of the students have since transferred out of the district.

In January, many parents and community members — including two of the students’ parents — spoke up against the district’s disciplinary actions, saying the actions were too harsh, and that it was not up to the district to discipline students based on what may have happened outside of school.

To see if the district’s investigation and disciplinary actions were compliant with the Minnesota State High School League and to move on from the months of controversy, the school board voted in February to hire a third-party consultant to review the district’s actions.

The consultant, Michelle M. Soldo, attorney and investigator for Soldo Consulting, reportedly had no prior professional or personal association with the district or a previous role in the district’s investigation.

School Board chairman Jesse Haugh read the report summary submitted by Soldo. Much of the findings have been determined as classified, as they include private education data, private personnel data and confidential investigative data.

According to the report summary, a parent notified district officials on Nov. 6 about the alleged assault that occurred in October at a student’s home. Following the report, and in consultation with the district’s legal counsel, district officials conducted “timely and thorough” investigations of the report from Nov. 6 to Dec. 7. Based on her findings, Soldo concluded the district’s actions were justified.

“Speculation, conjecture and uninformed allegations that District actions were not prompt and appropriate are refuted by this record,” Soldo stated in the summary.

With the submission of the classified report, the investigation has been closed.