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Copyright © 2002 Express Publishing Inc.
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For the week of August 21 - 27, 2002

News

School board institutes new anti-drug policy

Third-strike-and-your-out 
procedures put in place


"Our committee listened to 24 students from the district’s four secondary schools. They told us they would like to have a stronger policy."

—JIM LEWIS, district superintendent


By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

A new anti-drug policy for all grade levels was approved last week by the Blaine County School Board of Trustees. The vote was 3 to 0. Chairwoman Claudia Fiaschetti and Kim Nilsen were absent.

Questions regarding the third-strike-and-your-out policy were raised at the last minute by board member Kate Parnes, but school district administrators and school principals assured her and the board that "tweaking" of the language could still be done on some of the issues, according to District Superintendent Jim Lewis.

Under the district’s new anti-drug policy, a student would be punished for possession or use of tobacco, alcohol or any illegal inhalant or controlled mood-altering chemical, abused chemical, and drug-use paraphernalia.

For a student’s first offense, the child’s parents or guardians as well as local law enforcement officials would be notified. There would be an immediate expulsion from school with a recommendation for a 30-day suspension.

There are several ways a first offense student would be able to reduce the time spent on suspension, including participation in a drug or alcohol treatment program, involvement by a parent or guardian, and community service. Upon return to school the student would be escorted to classes and required to do homework under supervision for two hours after school for five days.

For the second offense there would be a recommendation for expulsion for a full school year. It may be modified to a minimum of one trimester if the student and parent agree to 10 days of community service, drug and alcohol assessment with a urinalysis, community service and recommendations for any education or treatment. Upon return to school the student would have to adhere to a strict behavioral contract.

The third offense would result in expulsion with no chance of reduction of the full-year suspension penalty.

For the sale of any illegal substances, including tobacco and alcohol, the first offense would result in immediate suspension with a recommendation for expulsion for one year. The police would be notified.

Generally, if a student is suspected by a teacher, counselor or administrator of abuse of any of illegal substances they would be asked to come to the principal’s office for questioning. The parent or guardian would be called and, if necessary, the school resource officer would also be summoned.

A key provision of the new policy is a "reasonable suspicion" clause that comes directly from action by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year.

If a teacher, for example, suspects a student is under the influence, the teacher can document the student’s behavior on a checklist and send a referral form to school administrators—who would start established procedures to deal with the problem.

Blaine County teachers received training in drug identification procedures before the start of the 2002-03 school year, Lewis said in a previous interview.

"We are trying not to accuse a kid without probable cause," he said.

The "Behavior and Discipline" policy was crafted through the work of a 40-person community committee that has been meeting since last November.

Lewis said the "most compelling" testimony in favor of strengthening the school district’s drug and alcohol policies came from students themselves during a two-hour meeting in Hailey in February.

"Our committee listened to 24 students from the district’s four secondary schools. They told us they would like to have a stronger policy," Lewis said.

Random drug testing "has not been proposed and is not on the agenda," Lewis said, despite the June 27 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld drug testing for students in extracurricular activities.

The Code of Conduct came under public scrutiny last fall when an off-campus party resulted in 20 Wood River High athletes being suspended from four different school activities because of violations of the previously existing Code of Conduct and Health.

 

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