STUDENTS TO PUSH FOR REVISED DRUG POLICY

Suspended Teen Says He Didn't Know About Burnt Marijuana In Car

WHAT: West Perry School Board meeting. WHEN: 7:30 tonight. WHERE: The
district office, Elliottsburg. INFORMATION: www.westperry.k12.pa.us.

ELLIOTTSBURG l Several West Perry High School students will ask the
school board tonight to modify its policy regarding punishment for
students caught with drugs on campus.

At issue is a senior who was suspended from school for five days and
the track team for 30 days after a police drug dog in the school lot
April 25 detected marijuana in a used car the boy had recently purchased.

Friends of the student said police found a small amount of burnt
marijuana in the car's ashtray -- drugs they say their friend knew
nothing about.

"The punishment seems a little harsh," classmate Samuel Dubois said.
"He got the car for basically nothing, but he's paying for it now."

Attempts to reach the student were unsuccessful.

"He doesn't want to go down in history as the guy who was suspended
for something like this," Dubois said. "A lot of people think this is
really unfair."

Lynn Aul, another classmate, said the student took and passed several
drug tests, including urine, blood and hair follicles. He was not
charged criminally.

More than 100 students signed a petition in support of the suspended
student, Aul said.

"He's not a smoker of any kind," Aul said. "He never used the ashtray
and didn't even clean out the car since he got it."

In 2006, West Perry approved a policy that calls for a 30-day
suspension from extracurricular activities for a first violation of
the drug and alcohol policy -- whether that violation occurs in or
out of school.

First-time offenders are allowed to participate in practice if they
submit to a drug and alcohol assessment.

A second offense calls for suspension from the activity for a year.

The policy was created after five field hockey players were suspended
from the team after they admitted drinking alcohol at a weekend party
in 2005. School officials removed six soccer players from their team
for the same offense in 2004.

Telephone calls placed Friday to Superintendent Rhonda Brunner and
high school Principal Sherri Connell were not returned. School was
closed Friday.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: West Perry School Board meeting. WHEN: 7:30 tonight. WHERE: The
district office, Elliottsburg. INFORMATION: www.westperry.k12.pa.us.