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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake