CBHS EXPELS STUDENT UNDER DRUG TEST POLICY

Christian Brothers High School has expelled its first student for twice
failing drug tests.

The senior was one of 13 students who tested positive for marijuana use
last fall.

He was tested again recently, and when the second positive result for
marijuana was returned while the school was on spring break last week, the
boy was expelled Monday, school officials said.

"We met with the student, and then called the parents," CBHS principal
Brother Chris Englert said Wednesday afternoon. "We were very clear. We
enforced our policy."

Under the CBHS policy, any student who tests positive will have to
participate in a conference with his parents and school officials, in which
counseling and other issues are discussed.

Then, about 100 days later, the student will be tested again. If the second
test is positive, the student will be expelled.

Using a hair from the student's head, the test scans for marijuana,
cocaine, heroin, PCP, methamphetamines and ecstasy. It does not test for
alcohol.

CBHS began testing its entire student body for drugs last fall, becoming
the first school in the Memphis area to institute such a policy.

Brother Chris said he'd hoped the situation wouldn't escalate to an expulsion.

"I was hoping it wouldn't get this far. I didn't know what to expect," he said.

Efforts to talk to the student and his family were unsuccessful.