CABELL EXPULSION RATES RISE STEADILY

HUNTINGTON -- The number of expulsions in Cabell County has increased
at a steady pace during the past three school years.

Cabell County had already expelled 40 students in November -- less
than halfway through this school year. It had expelled 63 for the
entire 2002-2003 school year, according to statistics made available
by Cabell County Schools. This school year's records for December,
January and February were not yet available.

Students at the high school level are often expelled for battery
(including battery and assault against employees, but mostly against
other students), possession of a controlled substance and possession
of a dangerous weapon. More often, though, students are being
expelled for simply not following rules, said Todd Alexander,
administrative assistant for secondary schools.

A recent middle school trend included students bringing to school
prescription drugs that officials say were most likely taken from
parents' medicine cabinets. In one recent case, a middle school
student consumed a dog's heartworm pill but had his/her stomach
pumped before anything too serious happened, said Bill Smith, Cabell
County Schools superintendent. Possession of a controlled substance,
which include prescription drugs, will lead to expulsion.

And expulsion can be up to one year.

Several Huntington High students agreed that they are not afraid of
what goes on in school, and though they don't always agree with the
reasons students are expelled, seeing a high number of student
expulsions can take care of potential problems.

"I think if it comes down to drugs and weapons, they should get
expelled," said Megan Akers, a 17-year-old junior at Huntington High.

The county Code of Conduct, in accordance with the state, says that
students who have been suspended for battery on a school employee,
possession of a firearm or deadly weapon or sale of a narcotic drug
shall be recommended for expulsion within 24 hours by the principal.

Smith, in turn, shall recommend expulsion to the board of education,
which has a hearing to determine if the student is guilty of
committing his or her alleged actions. If they do, the code states
the board shall expel the student.

Suspension usually means the student is out of school for up to 10
days. A hearing must take place for suspension to be more than 10 days.

"I think it's an important process," Alexander said. "We have to make
sure our school environment stays conducive to learning, and
unfortunately sometimes that means removing students who cause disruptions."

Sophomore Erica Miller, a 16-year-old student at Huntington High,
said she has attended the Alternative School, a provided education
for expelled students housed in the former Huntington East High
School. It resulted from the state Safe Schools Act.

Miller said she did well there.

"It's less people in classes, and more one-on-one time with
teachers," she said. "I got better grades there."

The Alternative School is designed to help students by providing
counseling and allowing for drug courts or any other mandated court
programs to happen while the student is enrolled there, Smith said.

"The whole design is to get them back in school," Smith said. "It's
really designed to help kids get back on track."

With Cabell County Schools data through November, half of the
expulsions were Huntington High students. Only five of the 40 were
Cabell Midland students; 14 were middle school students, and one was
a student at Spring Hill Elementary.

Officials try to find alternative punishments for elementary
students, Smith said.

Smith said this was not an accurate representation of the school
breakdown because it is difficult to look at the trends in the
schools. Sometimes there will be one incident involving several
individuals where everyone involved is expelled, and the
administration cannot predict when and where this might happen.

"We've tried to crack down on habitual offenders," Alexander said. "A
lot of times, these are very difficult decisions to make. These
aren't bad kids -- they are just kids who have made a bad decision."

Some students have their own ideas on what should warrant expulsion.

Akers said she has been suspended and is making an effort to stay out
of trouble at school. Akers and her friend, Shakesia Keith, a
16-year-old junior, agree that even carrying a pocket knife warrants
expulsion, but they say physical fighting does not.

Pocket knives can be dangerous, and drugs -- "you can sell it to
other people, and you can get killed doing that stuff," Keith said.

Each school is required to have a "responsible student program" of
some type, helping to prevent the rule violations. Middle schools
often use a reward system, whereas the two high schools try to keep
the day structured, including time waiting for buses and at lunch, Smith said.

Sometimes, there is no alternative to expelling students.

"Do we look out for the good of one or the good of the many?"
Alexander said. "We have to do what is best for the schools."

Though he has been suspended from school several times, Huntington
High senior Chris Thompson is looking forward to a June graduation.
He has never been expelled from school and says it has been at least
two years since his last fight on campus.

"I just stay out of trouble to stay out of trouble," said Thompson,
19, who added he was not afraid of being expelled. "I do it so I can
graduate, so I can get out of here."