Pubdate: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 Source: Chapel Hill News (NC) Copyright: 2005 Chapel Hill News Contact: http://www.chapelhillnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1081 Author: Patrick Winn Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) BOARD TO REVIEW NEW SUBSTANCE-ABUSE POLICY CHAPEL HILL -- The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district's approach to substance abuse will soon be shaped into one unified policy rather the current hodgepodge of punishments that vary by the school. A draft proposal would give middle school offenders a clean slate when entering high school and steer kids toward in-school counseling instead of out-of-school suspension. Though more would be done to root out problems -- more drug-sniffing dogs, better surveillance of campus haunts -- the staff-recommended plan favors mediation rather than punishment in many cases. After being reviewed by cops, coaches, students, counselors and others who might have a stake in its outcome, the plan will go before the school board on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. "There's always a conflict between wanting to make a point of punishment and wanting to make sure that punishment is helpful and healthy for kids," said Ruby Bugg, counselor at East Chapel Hill High School. If passed, the proposal would toughen penalties at some schools and loosen them in others. Presently, East Chapel Hill high athletes are instantly booted off a team when caught with drugs or alcohol. At Chapel Hill High, it's up to the coach. But the recommended policy takes the middle ground: students would be barred from all extracurricular activities -- whether sports or the chess club -- for 10 days. After two incidents, they'd be out for 45 days. Students caught with drugs, including alcohol, would also: Lose on-campus parking privileges for 90 days. Spend five days in Saturday School or be suspended in-school for five days. Stay suspended until a parent meets with school administrators. Develop a personal accountability plan. Among other measures, second offenses would draw 10-day suspensions. Third offenses would find the student suspended for at least 45 days, though completing a drug-treatment program could bring him or her back sooner. Students caught selling drugs would be suspended for the rest of the school year, or at least 90 days. The proposed policy also clarifies how students could be penalized for drinking or using narcotics off-campus. Only a police report -- not an eyewitness account -- would suffice, though students could still lose parking privileges and their place on an extracurricular team. The proposal would give students found smoking or carrying tobacco more leniency. They'd face three days of in-school suspension, though that sentence could be whittled down by attending "Alternative to Suspension" programs. Those alternatives aren't yet spelled out, but the report contends that putting non-dangerous kids out of school has "no educational purpose" and is "of questionable personal benefit." Adopting a new substance abuse policy is one of the board's top 10 goals this school year. Board Chairwoman Lisa Stuckey said she couldn't speculate on when it might pass or how her colleagues might tweak it. "We're still looking to find that appropriate balance between education measures and punitive measures," Stuckey said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth