DRUG PENALTIES CONSIDERED FOR MORE EXTRA-CURRICULARS

Policy Would Extend to Clubs, Performers

Stonington -- If members of the band, drama club or math club get
caught with drugs or alcohol either on or off school grounds they
will be now be suspended from those activities, according to a new
regulation that will be considered tonight by the Board of Education.
The regulation would bring all extra curricular activities in line
with a similar regulation implemented for sports teams last month.

Since 1998, the school system has had a regulation that outlines
penalties for students possessing or using alcohol or drugs during
school and at school-sponsored activities, whether they take place on
or off the school premises.

A first violation calls for a five-day suspension as well as counseling.

A second violation results in a student being expelled. The school
also contacts police when students are found with drugs or alcohol.
Students who sell or distribute drugs are expelled.

And if a student also was a member of a sports team, individual
coaches handed out a punishment they deemed appropriate, over and
above the school-imposed penalty. This often involved a suspension
from the team.

Superintendent of Schools Michael McKee said that new high school
Athletic Director Bryan Morrone recommended to the District Athletic
Committee this fall that the school system eliminate the coaches'
discretion on additional penalties and instead adopt a policy that
would standardize the punishment for all student-athletes caught with
drugs or alcohol.

The committee created a regulation which the school board approved last month.

It has taken effect for the winter sports season.

That policy bans student-athletes from using, possessing or
distributing alcohol and illegal drugs including
performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids on or off school
grounds. Like most school systems, the schools here do not have a
drug testing program.

The first offense results in a five-day suspension from all team
activities. When that ends, the student-athlete serves a 15-school
day suspension from any games. They are then able to practice with
the team and stand on the sidelines but are not allowed to wear a
team uniform or participate in the event.

The school also encourages the athlete to undergo substance-abuse counseling.

If the offense occurs at the end of a season the suspension continues
over to the next sport or season the athlete participates in. If a
second offense occurs in the same school year, the student athlete is
not permitted to participate in any sport for the rest of the year.

School board member Gail MacDonald suggested that such as policy
apply to students in all extracurricular activities and McKee drew up
a regulation.

The regulation would apply to a long list of activities such as the
yearbook, school newspaper, ski club and the National Honor Society.

As in the sports regulation, the use, possession or distribution of
alcohol and illegal drugs including performance-enhancing drugs on or
off school grounds will result in punishment.

The first offense will be 10-(school)day suspension from any
extracurricular activity, including attendance at meetings and
activities such as rehearsals, competitions, productions and fund raising.

Students will not be allowed to participate in or join any other
extracurricular activities during the suspension and will be
encouraged to undergo substance abuse counseling.

If a second offense occurs within the same school year the student
will be barred from participating in any extracurricular activities
for the rest of the school year.

The school board will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the School Administration Building.