Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2002
Source: Tryon Daily Bulletin, The (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Tryon Daily Bulletin
Contact:  http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1973
Author: Jeff Byrd

DRUG POLICY CHANGED FOR FIRST OFFENDERS

Students caught, for the first time, taking drugs, alcohol or controlled 
substances will not be kicked out of athletics and extracurricular 
activities under a revised policy adopted by the Polk County Board of 
Education Monday. Instead, students will now continue to practice with 
their team, but will not be eligible to dress out or participate in 25 
percent of the season's contests, including playoff games. "The specific 
dates and times shall be determined by the principal after consultation 
with the superintendent or designee," the new rules read.

Those students also must enroll in and complete a substance abuse 
counseling program and agree to submit to urinalysis testing at any time 
during the athletic season.

Before the change, the policy required students making their first offense 
to be ineligible for athletics and/or extracurricular activities for the 
rest of the athletic season, or 60 days, whichever ended last.

School board chairman Geoff Tennant said he preferred the changed policy 
because students are not simply sent away after their first violation.

"Under this policy, you do not shove that kid away," Tennant said. "We used 
to say, 'You have made a mistake. Good-bye.' Now we say, 'You have made a 
mistake, but we want to work with you.'"

Polk County High School principal Bill Miller said he does not want to 
leave anyone with the impression that the schools are lightening up on 
substance abuse. "This is a hard thing," Miller said. "We are not trying to 
ease up. We just think this is a better way. We are trying to figure out 
the best way to guide them and give them a chance to make a good decision.

"(Violators) will have to look their teammates in the face and say the 
reason I'm not here helping you is this..."

School board member Rick Covil, who is a strong advocate for the county 
athletics programs and has advocated mandatory drug testing for all 
athletes, made the motion to approve the change.

In other business, the school board:

Named 31 administrators, teachers, parents and school board members, to 
become a middle school task force. The group will seek advice from the 
community and faculty, visit "highly successful middle schools," and read 
current research and then make recommendations regarding the best 
curriculum and instructional programs for a consolidated Polk County Middle 
School.

Heard that the Polk County High School construction project is proceeding. 
Walls are up on the new field house, and a foundation for the new fine arts 
wing is expected to be poured this week. "We feel very good about the level 
of quality control," Supt. Susan McHugh said.

Heard high school principal Miller explain that the grading contractor, for 
free, was using dirt from the new construction sites to help level a new 
field along the high school driveway. Miller said it is only 50-by-60 
yards, but it will offer another practice field. The band now waits until 
6:30 p.m. to get onto the practice fields during the fall and women's 
soccer has to practice off campus in the spring.

Heard reports on the start of the new school year from Cathy Childress, 
principal of Polk Central, Hank Utz, principal of Tryon Middle, and from 
Supt. McHugh. All three said the first day was as positive and smooth a 
first day as they could remember and McHugh saluted the expertise and 
experience of the staff.

Heard McHugh report that student transfer requests were becoming a greater 
problem as the county's school facilities fill up. The school 
administration has been committed to allowing parents to choose between 
schools, regardless of where they live. But due to space and state-mandated 
class sizes, those requests are more often having to be denied, McHugh 
said. She said the staff is reevaluating how best to handle student 
transfer requests.

Heard a request from John Vining that the board consider establishing a 
dress code requiring students in middle school to wear uniforms.

Heard one parent express concern about the safety of the bus stop at Hwy. 
108 and Hwy. 9. Chairman Tennant said the administration would review the 
safety of the bus stop there.
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MAP posted-by: Tom