JEFFERSON TWP — All of the students expelled last summer from South Butler School District after a drug-related incident on the last day of school have been approved to return to the district, after readmission hearings held this month.

The students, six in all according to Superintendent David Zupsic, are all allowed to return to the district effective Jan. 23, which is the first day of class for the school’s second semester this year.

The students were expelled in July after school officials said a backpack with drug paraphernalia was left in a parking lot at the school on July 10. School police identified the owner of the bag, and a subsequent investigation found that the students had “got into situations where they violated the drug and alcohol policy,” Zupsic said at the time. He said the violations were “based around marijuana use,” which occurred off school property and the paraphernalia was subsequently brought onto school property.

Two of the students were approved for readmittance last week, following hearings before the school board. And board members voted Wednesday night to approve two more to return as well. It wasn’t immediately clear when the final two students were approved for readmittance. Zupsic said the board’s vote to readmit the students brings a formal end to the incident.