Minivan given to family of boy punished for tardiness

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Southern Oregon businesses have donated a minivan to a family whose 6-year-old son was publicly punished for being late to school when his mother said her health issues and car trouble were to blame.

A photo posted on Facebook of Hunter Cmelo sitting isolated behind a cardboard screen in a school lunchroom generated outrage and heated phone calls and commentary.

The school system in Grants Pass posted officers outside Lincoln Elementary School for a few days and said it won’t use that sort of punishment again.

Kelly Automotive owner Lisa McClease Kelly said businesses in Medford and Grants Pass provided a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country minivan, refurbished it and provided some free gas and free oil changes.

That was an alternative to fixing the family’s Dodge Durango, which mechanics said was in poor shape.

When Nicole Garloff and Mark Cmelo showed up Tuesday to retrieve what they thought would be their repaired vehicle, they found the nicer minivan.