EXPULSION SOUGHT FOR DRUG, GUN OFFENCES

The Toronto school board has toughened up its safe schools policy,
recommending expulsion for students who traffic in drugs or are found to
have a firearm - whether real or a replica.

"It's important that there be very clear guidelines," said Gail Nyberg,
chair of the Toronto District School Board. "We think we need to point out
to young people and their parents the seriousness of this inappropriate
behaviour."

The policy goes before the board's standing committee tonight and then
before the full board later this month.

If approved, it will be implemented immediately, said Nyberg.

Earlier versions said principals could recommend that students caught
selling drugs or alcohol be expelled, but now principals are compelled to
do so. Other offences that would lead to expulsion are assault with a
weapon or a firearm.

Expulsion means a student cannot attend any school within the board or even
be on board property.

In such cases, there is "due process" in the form of a review committee and
a hearing for the student before the expulsion is final, said Nyberg.

"The recognition is there, from our perspective . . . (that there needs to
be) the sober second thought of the committee looking at it."

The Ontario government's planned code of conduct, which would give
principals the right to expel students without consulting the school board,
or let teachers suspend kids from class, is misguided, said Nyberg.

"When you are dealing with young people, you can't deal with automatics,"
she said.

The provincial code, which when implemented will supersede the board's own,
would expel students for bringing weapons on school property, trafficking
in drugs or alcohol, or criminal assault.

The Toronto board recommends suspension in cases of assault.