FIVE MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS ARE EXPELLED FOR HAVING DRUGS

GRANITE CITY - Five middle school students were among 10 in Granite
City recently expelled for offenses ranging from fighting to drug possession.

A District 9 spokesman said the five middle school expulsions, all
for drugs, show drugs are winding their way from high school to lower grades.

"In my opinion, there is a definite trickle-down effect," said Ron
Stern, administrative assistant for secondary education.

At Collinsville Intermediate School last week, one boy was caught
with marijuana and another with oregano he apparently believed was
marijuana. Both students are 11 years old.

Stern declined to say whether the Granite City drug offenses
involved illegal drugs, over-the-counter medication or
prescriptions. All three are forbidden by school policy.

"Our policy covers ... any form of students handling drugs in
school," Stern said.

Both the district's middle schools, Coolidge and Grigsby, had
students expelled.

Police were called in all the cases. A Granite City police spokesman
could not be reached for comment on whether any of the cases have
been turned over to the Madison County state's attorney for juvenile
prosecution.

Assistant State's Attorney Amy Maher, the county juvenile
prosecutor, said she has a number of Granite City cases but did not
know Monday whether any were from the school expulsions.

The expulsions were handed down by District 9 School Board after an
hour-long executive session at its regular meeting on Oct. 10.

First-offenders can be readmitted before the year is up if they
successfully complete drug education classes, submit to random drug
testing and do community service, Stern said.