Pubdate: Sat, 14 Dec 2002
Source: The Patriot Ledger (MA)
Copyright: 2002 The Patriot Ledger
Contact:  http://ledger.southofboston.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1619
Author: Anne Trafton

FORUM TO DISCUSS ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY: DUXBURY DRUG POLICY NOT POPULAR 
WITH ALL

DUXBURY - The conversation that has been taking place all over Duxbury in 
the past few months will find a formal outlet Wednesday in a substance 
abuse forum at Duxbury High School.

The purpose of the forum is to allow residents to offer their input 
regarding substance abuse by teenagers and what some believe are overly 
harsh punishments for students caught with drugs and alcohol.

"All of this is being talked about everywhere in the community," said 
school committeewoman Sarah Madigan. "The idea is to bring everyone 
together in one room and have a conversation."

The forum, which is sponsored by the Duxbury High School Council and 
Duxbury's drug and alcohol awareness committee, will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Parents upset with the punishments handed down by high school 
administrators in recent months have attended several school committee and 
high school council meetings to express their concerns. The high school 
council is made up of school staff members and parents.

The forum was scheduled after 250 parents showed up at a high school 
council meeting last month to protest the so-called "zero tolerance" policy.

The forum will be run much like a town meeting, Madigan said. Ted Flynn, a 
former member of the school committee and the finance committee, will moderate.

"The idea is to allow people to have as much input and comment as they 
would like," Madigan said.

Members of the police department and the district attorney's office will be 
available to answer questions from parents.

A flier sent home to parents says that "no debate is intended" at the 
forum. Several parents, who are hoping to open a dialogue with 
administrators and school committee members, have expressed concern about 
that statement.

"Another meeting of stoic expression is not going to be helpful to the 
community. It's becoming more and more divisive," said a parent, Alison 
Rich. "At some point someone needs to answer the questions."

During the public comment period of last Wednesday night's school committee 
meeting, parents said they were frustrated with the fact that school 
committee members do not seem to respond to questions and comments during 
the comment period.

Madigan said that although the committee does not usually offer an 
immediate response, it does listen to parents and acts upon their input.

"It's a matter of hearing what people think and digesting it," she said. "I 
think it is important that we have an open comment period so if there are 
issues people want to talk about they have the right to bring them forward."

Madigan said the school committee and high school council have responded to 
parents' concerns by scheduling the forum and appointing an advisory 
committee, which will review Duxbury's disciplinary policy and compare it 
with those in surrounding communities.

"That, to me, is a response," she said.

The recently appointed substance abuse advisory committee will hold its 
first meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the high school.
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MAP posted-by: Beth