Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006
Source: Belleville News-Democrat (IL)
Copyright: 2006 Belleville News-Democrat
Contact:  http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1185
Author: Jayne Matthews, News-Democrat

FIVE MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS ARE EXPELLED FOR HAVING DRUGS

GRANITE CITY - Five middle school students were among  10 in Granite 
City recently expelled for offenses  ranging from fighting to drug possession.

A District 9 spokesman said the five middle school  expulsions, all 
for drugs, show drugs are winding their  way from high school to lower grades.

"In my opinion, there is a definite trickle-down  effect," said Ron 
Stern, administrative assistant for  secondary education.

At Collinsville Intermediate School last week, one boy  was caught 
with marijuana and another with oregano he  apparently believed was 
marijuana. Both students are 11  years old.

Stern declined to say whether the Granite City drug  offenses 
involved illegal drugs, over-the-counter  medication or 
prescriptions. All three are forbidden by  school policy.

"Our policy covers ... any form of students handling  drugs in 
school," Stern said.

Both the district's middle schools, Coolidge and  Grigsby, had 
students expelled.

Police were called in all the cases. A Granite City  police spokesman 
could not be reached for comment on  whether any of the cases have 
been turned over to the  Madison County state's attorney for juvenile 
prosecution.

Assistant State's Attorney Amy Maher, the county  juvenile 
prosecutor, said she has a number of Granite  City cases but did not 
know Monday whether any were  from the school expulsions.

The expulsions were handed down by District 9 School  Board after an 
hour-long executive session at its  regular meeting on Oct. 10.

First-offenders can be readmitted before the year is up  if they 
successfully complete drug education classes,  submit to random drug 
testing and do community service,  Stern said.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine