BOARD LEVIES SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS ON 8 STUDENT LEADERS AT FOOTHILL

Education: The 'Zero Tolerance' Case Is Decided Under The Policy'S 'Extreme
Circumstances' Clause.

TUSTIN - The school board announced Tuesday a series of punishments for
eight Foothill High School student leaders exempted from the district's
"zero tolerance" policy.

The former Associated Student Body members will not be permitted to
participate in student government or royalty court, serve as an officer of a
club or captain of a sports team, or speak at graduation.

Board President Jane Bauer said an "extreme circumstances" clause in the
policy kept the students from being transferred to another school - as
required by the policy. She refused to say what the circumstances were. The
board agreed last week not to transfer the students.

The eight students - and another who was exonerated - were accused of
drinking alcohol at a leadership camp Aug. 26 in Santa Barbara.

As a result, teachers and chaperones will make certain students clearly
understand the policy before going on trips, said Mark Eliot, district
spokesman. The school board plans to re-evaluate the policy at its Oct. 11
meeting.

Last year, 45 Tustin students were among hundreds countywide transferred to
other schools for violating zero-tolerance policies. In one case, five
Foothill athletes were transferred after allegedly smoking marijuana at lunch.

"I think the policy should have stood for those kids like it stood for our
kids, until the policy is changed," said Jim Pierson, whose son was one of
those five athletes.

John Clark, a parent of one of the nine ASB students, said he is not
completely happy with the board's decision.

"They are going to be in a very confined environment the rest of their time
at Foothill."

Since zero tolerance was introduced in the district in 1997, this is the
first case of the policy affecting such a high number of student leaders.

Parents representing three of the students said at a press conference
Tuesday that they will consider what steps are necessary to have their
children's five-day suspensions wiped from school records.