Pubdate: Fri, 11 May 2007 Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (NY) Copyright: 2007 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Contact: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/614 Author: Erica Bryant, Staff writer SCHOOLS VARY ON DRUG-USE PENALTIES With No Statewide Protocol, Area Districts Differ On Severity A student who gets caught with alcohol at Irondequoit High School faces a 20-week suspension. For the same offense at some other area schools, he or she could be back in class after five days. The state Department of Education doesn't dictate how districts should penalize drug and alcohol violations. Local districts have devised widely differing ways of dealing with youth substance abuse, a problem that Monroe County Department of Health data show is not getting much better. About 10 years ago, the West Irondequoit School District instituted one of the region's strictest policies -- get caught with drugs or alcohol, get suspended for 20 weeks. For middle school students, the penalty is 15 weeks. "We are very firm," said Superintendent Jeffrey Crane. Until last summer, state education law prevented the district from shortening the length of this mandatory suspension if students were willing to enter treatment and get involved in an intervention process. The district lobbied for more discretion and in 2006, the law changed, allowing districts to condition a suspended student's early return to school on counseling and/or community service. Now West Irondequoit offers students an option. Those who agree to go through a rehabilitation process can go back to school after seven weeks for high school students and five weeks for middle school students. A student who chooses the intervention route must go through alcohol and drug counseling and testing. Community service may also be involved. High school students are sent to observe Rochester City Drug Court. During this school year, 21 students have been suspended from Irondequoit High School for drug and alcohol violations. Ninety percent have chosen counseling and community service to reduce their time out of school. Two students have been suspended from Dake Junior High School for drug and alcohol offenses. Both have chosen counseling and community service. "Schools around the state have sent us thank-you notes," said Crane. "Now they can get into intervention." Other districts A seven-week suspension still is significantly longer than the penalties issued at other schools. In Pittsford Central schools, for example, there is a mandatory five-day suspension for students who are caught possessing or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol on school grounds or at school-related activities. Every student who is suspended for such an infraction is offered optional counseling. Eight students were suspended last year. In the Hilton district, students caught with drugs or alcohol also face a five-day suspension. They are referred to Hilton's Student Assistance Team, which includes a staff member who does drug and alcohol counseling. Students who seek medical intervention can see that suspension reduced to three days. Steve Lemon, the director of safety and security for the Hilton school district, says that no students were suspended for substance abuse in Hilton's middle school or high school last year. In the Rochester School District, drug or alcohol possession results in an automatic suspension, the length of which is determined by the principal. Students are directed to student support centers, where they can get help from such community agencies as the Center for Youth Services. Last year, there were 62 suspensions. Crane hopes that the stiff penalties in West Irondequoit help students understand the gravity of their offense. They are tutored by district staff members for two hours each day during their suspension period, - --- MAP posted-by: Derek