STUDENTS FIGHT BOY'S DRUG SUSPENSION

North Salem - A growing chorus of students and community members are
calling on the North Salem schools to reconsider a nine-week
suspension of a sophomore caught by his parents with a small amount of
marijuana.

They say the punishment is particularly unfair because the boy's
father brought the drugs to the school's attention and asked for help.

North Salem High School students, some who reportedly have printed
T-shirts with the slogan "Free Pablo," also said the suspension of
Pablo Rodriguez for an entire marking period is far longer than for
kids disciplined for smoking pot on school grounds.

Bob Tompkins, a friend of Rodriguez's father who was a guidance
counselor for Putnam/Northern Westchester Board of Cooperative
Educational Services in Yorktown for 35 years, said the suspension was
a tremendous injustice.

"I think it's got to be one of the low points that I've ever heard of,
and I've lived here my whole life," he said.

One problem is that the Rodriguez family has missed a 10-day deadline
for appealing the suspension handed down by the superintendent to the
North Salem Board of Education. But, after Rodriguez's father, also
Pablo Rodriguez, and a few dozen supporters appealed to the school
board at a meeting this week, the trustees decided to give the family
a chance to explain why they missed the deadline and may hear an
appeal, said the district's lawyer, Jeffrey Kehl.

The senior Rodriguez said he went to the school because he felt the
drug problem in the middle and high schools was a community problem
and that his son should face the consequences. But he said the lesson
from the response was that parents should keep their mouths shut. The
child who sold the drugs, Rodriguez said, is still in class because he
denied his role.

"I went to the school for help, and I received punishment," Rodriguez
said.

The issue started Feb. 5 when Marlen Rodriguez, Pablo's mother, found
the remnants of a joint in his pants as she prepared to do the
laundry. She called her husband and he confronted their son, who said
he bought the joint for $20 in the school library and that marijuana
was easily available at school. Rodriguez brought his son in to the
school resource officer, a state police trooper, and they went to see
the vice principal.

The 16-year-old boy initially was given a five-day suspension and then
a hearing was set with the superintendent for Feb. 8. A letter the
next day informed the family that the suspension would run through
April 11.

Rodriguez, who works at the former North Salem Vineyard, said he
thought the appeal period ran for 10 school days and that the school
vacation in February didn't count. In any case, he said, he would have
accepted a suspension of a week or two. But a nine-week suspension is
unfair and could damage his son's future, including his hope of
attending the Marine Corps Officer Candidates School, he said.

Many community members agree and are trying to help the family change
the minds of school board members. They are signing petitions at
Kingsley's Market on June Road near the high school, which is owned by
Rodriguez's friend John Stephenson, and students are collecting
signatures at school.

"I just think it's completely wrong because it wasn't even at school,"
said Kathleen Maguire, an 18-year-old senior at North Salem High who
stopped in at Kingsley's yesterday morning. Kids caught smoking
marijuana on school grounds have gotten a two-week suspension, said
Andrew Zacotinsky, also a senior.

"No one's ever gotten in that much trouble for that," he
said.

The younger Pablo Rodriguez said he appreciates the community's
support and has learned his lesson.

"I'll never do it again, obviously, because I never want to go through
it again," he said.

North Salem Superintendent Kenneth Freeston said he couldn't talk
specifically about Rodriguez's case. But he said he was concerned at
the perception that the schools were not addressing the drug problem.

On the contrary, Freeston said, the district works closely with the
school resource officer and is taking action. Kehl also noted that the
students may not be aware of the length of suspensions of other
students because they are not made public.

But Rodriguez is skeptical the schools want to tackle the problem. He
thinks their first reaction may be to keep it quiet to protect their
reputation.

"The problem is in the school," Rodriguez said. "I can solve the
problem in my house."