STUDENTS QUESTION DISTRICT POLICY

Newport Harbor High Student Leaders Argue For Changes In Zero-Tolerance
Policy For Drug, Alcohol Offenses.

NEWPORT-MESA -- On behalf of their classmates, student leaders Tuesday will
make a case for changing the district's controversial zero-tolerance policy.

In a 15-minute presentation to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District
Board of Education, two members of a Newport Harbor High School student
political action committee will share their findings from discussions
focused on the district's drug and alcohol policy that took place in
December at a town hall meeting.

Students insist there is a need for several changes in the policy, said
Patrick Sharma, one of the co-founders of the student political group.

"For the most part, there seems to be a consensus that the enforcement of
policy needs to be improved," Sharma said. "That means across the board
that if you're drunk -- no matter who you are -- you face the penalties."

Since the policy was introduced, there have been student complaints of
favoritism -- that school officials look the other way for some students
and not for others.

The second point of contention, he said, is the immediate 90-day transfer
of any student caught with drugs or alcohol on their first offense.

Students feel that certain options, such as rehabilitation or community
service, should be put in place along with or instead of the automatic
school transfer, Sharma said.

"Some people feel there is an advantage to transfers, getting [students]
out of a bad element," he said. "But others feel that the problem will just
continue at the other school."

A trio of school board members who have been researching the issue agree
that some changes may be in order. "We'd like to do interventions and I
think that's what will be forthcoming in the future," said school board
president Dana Black.

Black said it is important that school officials, parents and the community
hear the students' opinions on the issue before any decisions are made.

In the meantime, board members have been informally polling other districts
to find out how they handle alcohol and drug violations and what treatment
programs are used.