SUPERINTENDENT: YEARBOOK PAGE VIOLATED SCHOOL POLICIES

Students who created a controversial page about alcohol and drug use
in North Central High School's 2006 yearbook violated at least three
district policies, prompting an overhaul of North Central's
publications guidelines, Washington Township Schools Superintendent
James Mervilde said Wednesday.

Mervilde said students violated separate policies forbidding the
district from encouraging use of harmful substances, requiring the
district to encourage responsibility and mandating that all students
be treated respectfully.

Page 39 of the yearbook shows students drinking, smoking tobacco
products and using illegal drugs. Captions suggest those products
relax users.

Mervilde said Principal CE Quandt and journalism adviser Tom Gayda are
working to rewrite the building's publications policy to ensure
students are aware of the district policies.

"I'm confident things are moving in the right direction now," said
School Board Vice President Lori Schlabach.