TEENS EXPELLED OVER DRUGS

Theme days have long been part of week-long high school homecoming
celebrations. Wearing clothing inside out and donning costumes for
class are part of the fun.

But three Bland High School boys have been expelled for taking
"Hippie Day" too far beyond tie-dye shirts and peace signs during
Homecoming week.

Bland County law enforcement was called Oct. 16 to Bland High School
when a teacher reported a suspicious odor to Principal Kevin Siers.

When the students were questioned, they owned up to having marijuana.
They did not distribute it to other students.

Since the incident involved juveniles, the Sheriff's Office wouldn't
comment on the investigation.

In a closed session at its Oct. 25 meeting, the School Board voted to
expel the boys for 365 days.

Superintendent Don Hodock said the decision is standard procedure.

"The policy and practice for any drug-related infraction is
expulsion," he said.

He added, "We hope this action sends a strong message that it's not
going to be tolerated in Bland County schools on any level."

Parents of expelled students may petition for their children to be
readmitted earlier, Hodock said.

"If parents decide to do that, the board has approved that in every
case thus far," he said.

However, he noted, the School Board in the past has not allowed
readmittance until the fall.

School board member Roger Morehead declined to comment on the board's
decision, beyond saying, "It's always a difficult decision when it
involves young children like that."

Hodock says he is not without compassion for everyone involved.

"It hurts the School Board to have to deal with this. It hurts the
families to have to deal with this. The boys are remorseful," he
said. "It's making bad choices and having consequences."

Siers told the School Board Wednesday in his presentation of the BHS'
improvement plan that an April 2006 survey revealed that 59 percent
of students at the high school had tried tobacco, alcohol or drugs.
Siers said almost half that group, 47 percent, said they had tried tobacco.

"I wouldn't say that it's a huge problem, but we know that it's in
the community, and it's an issue our students face," Siers said.

He added, "Our plan is to better educate our students about the
effects of using alcohol, drugs and tobacco."