Pubdate: Wed, 08 Mar 2006
Source: Leader Times (PA)
Copyright: 2006 Leader Times
Contact:  http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/leadertimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3297
Author: Wynne Everett

FREEPORT SCHOOL BOARD, PARENTS TALK ABOUT DRUGS

Parents asked school district officials to do more to  curb teenage
drinking and drug abuse at Tuesday's  school board meeting.

Parents Dave and Marianne Hill asked the school board  to work more
cooperatively with parents and be more  open about drinking and
drug-use issues within the  schools.

Some parents are concerned that students may be  drinking or using
drugs while at school functions.

They also worry teenagers are skipping school to use  drugs or alcohol
without the parents getting proper  notification from school
officials, according to the  Hills.

Superintendent Joseph Malak and school board President  Meredith
Christy said the district is eager to work  with parents, but cannot
discuss specific instances of  drinking or drug use because of privacy
laws.

"It's a privacy thing," Christy said. "Anything that  happens, we
literally cannot say anything."

Malak said two students were expelled last year for  drug-policy
violations.

"We had a couple of issues with transient students who  were caught
and removed," Malak said.

School officials believe the two students were drug  dealers, Malak
said. They've noticed a decrease in  problems since the two were
expelled, Malak said.

He said the district has an administrator in charge of  the district's
Safe and Drug-Free Schools program. He  urged parents to contact
Principal Max Krugle at the  high school if they have concerns about
drinking or  drug use. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake