NUMBER OF DRUG-RELATED HIGH SCHOOL EXPULSIONS INCREASE BY HALF IN DISTRICT 51

Although the overall number of students expelled in District 51
schools decreased for the 2007-08 school year, the number of high
school students expelled for drug-related offenses increased by 41 percent.

The number of expelled students dropped from 116 to 95 in 2007-08,
with almost every category of expellable offenses - alcohol,
tobacco, assault, dangerous weapons, robbery, destruction of school
property and others - decreasing except drugs and other
controlled substances at the high school level.

Twenty-two high school students were expelled for either
distributing controlled substances or possessing them as a second
offense in 2006-07. That number jumped to 31 students last school
year, according to the district expulsion report.

Deb Bailey, who helped establish the Opportunity Center, an
alternative school for expelled students, in the 2008 spring
semester, said the majority of drugs are prescription and
over-the-counter drugs brought from home, not illegal substances.

"It's not what you would have thought of as a controlled substance,
but it is still detrimental," Bailey said. "It's like medical cabinet stuff."

Drugs are part of the "non-negotiables," Bailey said, meaning
disciplinary action is required whether the student has illegal
drugs or a normally legal substance.

According to Colorado statute, schools must recommend for expulsion
any student that distributes controlled substances on school
property. The school board modified that policy to include
provisions for possession of drugs. On first offense, District
51 students caught possessing controlled substances are recommended
for suspension. They are recommended for expulsion on the second offense.

The district implemented a positive-behavior-support system four
years ago, Bailey said. Expulsions have dropped steadily since then,
but the numbers are cyclical, and some areas increase while others
decrease each year, she said.

The system is meant to reward students for good choices and teach
acceptable behavior rather than only punish bad decisions. It has
been successful, Bailey said, adding the number of office referrals
in one middle school fell from 1,200 to 600 in one year.

Whatever the reason, high school students expelled for drugs did not
get the message.

"We've become much more clear on our drug policy," Bailey said.
"Sometimes kids just make poor decisions."

Drug-related expulsions are up, but so are the number of students
reporting their classmates, Bailey said. Almost every student
expelled for a drug-related offense was reported by another student, she said.

"Peer pressure works both ways," Bailey said. "Students are proud of
their school and don't want that around."