Pubdate: Fri, 19 Dec 2003
Source: Times, The (LA)
Copyright: 2003 The Times
Contact:  http://www.shreveporttimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1019
Author: Melody Brumble
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 ( Students - United States)

Bossier Advil Case

BOARD OKS DISCRETION IN PUNISHMENTS

Bossier Parish school system officials will notify principals that they 
aren't required to expel students with over-the-counter medications when 
school system employees return to work Jan. 5.

The School Board on Thursday voted unanimously to uphold committee 
recommendations aimed at more flexibility in the punishment for students 
caught with non-prescription medications at school. The expulsion of 
Parkway High School sophomore Amanda Stiles for having Advil in her purse 
created a national outcry over the district's zero-tolerance policy and 
punishment.

Superintendent Ken Kruithof said system officials also will start reviewing 
the circumstances of students expelled for that offense when they return to 
work after the Christmas holiday.

But first, they have to figure out who those students are. Kruithof has 
said repeatedly that officials don't note a difference between illegal, 
prescription and non-prescription pills found on students.

"What I want to make sure we do is a thorough job," Kruithof said after the 
meeting Thursday.

 From the start of school in August through early December, 18 students 
were attending the system's alternative school because of possession of 
"pills," according to a report provided to the Times after an open records 
request seeking details on seizures of over-the-counter medications and the 
punishments imposed in those situations.

School system attorney Jon Guice on Thursday denied a second request, this 
time for access to discipline reports so a reporter could compile 
information about cases involving pills.

District 3 board member George Finck said it shouldn't be difficult for 
system officials to determine which students were expelled for 
non-prescription medication possession.

"I think they can find that very easily," Finck said. "Each one that's 
there (at the alternative school), it's got to be on that (discipline) form."

The forms include a checklist of offense types that are standard across the 
state and a remarks section in which teachers or principals can provide 
more information about the situation leading to a discipline action.

School system officials will decide whether to return the expelled students 
to their regular school short of a full year of expulsion.

The board will return to the over-the-counter medication policy as early as 
January when assistant superintendent D.C. Machen presents information on 
how the board could change discipline procedures to provide principals 
guidance on handling individual cases.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman