TUSTIN MAY RELAX 'ZERO TOLERANCE'

EDUCATION: The school board might change the transfer rule for drug-or
alcohol-related offenses.

TUSTIN - Students in the Tustin Unified School District may no longer be
automatically transferred for violating the district's "zero tolerance" drug
and alcohol policy.

The school board is considering several changes to the policy, including
preventing students from being automatically transferred upon their first
violation of the code.

One proposed change - to be discussed and possibly adopted tonight - alters
wording in one section of the policy from "(students) shall be subject to
suspension and involuntary transfer" to "shall be subject to ... suspension
and may be subject to involuntary transfer."

Another change would require students to adhere to the policy at
"school-related" events such as a leadership camp, not only school-sponsored
events.

Students now caught in possession of or under the influence of drugs or
alcohol at school, during lunch or at school-sponsored events are
automatically suspended for five days and then transferred to antoher school
in the district for up to two semesters - except in cases of "extreme
circumstances."

Some parents have criticized the board since it cited "extreme
circumstances" as a reason for not transferring nine Foothill High School
Associated Student Body members accused of drinking vodka at a leadership
camp in August. The board would not define "extreme circumstances."

"It probably took these ASB kids to get everybody's attention," said Peggy
Pierson, whose son is one of the 45 students who has been transferred for
violating the policy since it was adopted in 1997.

School board member Ann Albertson said she wants the policy changed to give
more control to administrators at each school.