ZD,
As usual, you are coming from left field,. No one is trying to punish the students out of revenge, except the agitators who are bringing frivolous suits to personally harass the board members. This costing the district funds that could be used for education and now have to be directed to legal fees.
You should have heard the threats the agitators leveled at members. Specifically at the two black board members. Its all publicly posted. And it is also in the news how they stand outside the board members houses and shout and threaten them.