Gwinnett Daily Post

LILBURN - A seventh-grader at Lilburn Middle School was arrested last week on charges of simple battery and disruption of a public school after she reportedly hit her teacher, school district officials said.

The teacher suffered an "apparent minor injury" in the Wednesday incident, according to a Gwinnett County school police report. The injury was not described in the report.

The student was released to a parent, who will be responsible for taking her to Juvenile Court, according to the police report.

Jorge Quintana, a spokesman for Gwinnett County Public Schools, said the student and the teacher have had "difficulties" before, but this was the first reported incident of a physical nature.

In addition to the criminal charges, the 12-year-old girl will be taken before a disciplinary panel, Quintana said. If the panel finds her guilty of "intentional physical contact of a threatening or provoking nature," the minimum penalty will be suspension from the school until the end of the school year. The panel could also impose a more severe punishment, such as expulsion.