BOARD SILENT ON TURNABOUT

Members Won't Explain Reversal

Q. Why did the school board reverse the district's decision to transfer the
students?

A. Board member Jonathan Abelove declined comment on the matter. Attempts
to reach others board members were unsuccessful. Mark Eliot, school
district spokesman, said he did not know about the decision and declined to
comment on the matter.

Q. Were these nine ASB students punished at all?

A. Yes. Each began the school year on suspension. They were each suspended
for five days.

Q. How were they caught?

A. Some of the students, whose names were not released, were caught Aug. 26
by security guards who smelled alcohol on their breath at a dance at the
Orange County Leadership Council Camp at the University of California,
Santa Barbara. Others later confessed or were turned in by peers, Eliot said.

Q. What's the next step?

A. The board has not finished deliberating on the matter. Before a final
decision is made, restrictions will be placed on the students, limiting
their participation in school activities. Abelove said he's not sure if
those deliberations would end by Monday evening.

If those restrictions are too strict, Patti Clark, a parent of one of the
nine students, said she will consider appealing the board's decision to
Orange County Superior Court.

Q. How long has the board deliberated?

A. They met with students and parents for more than 12 hours on Wedenesday
and several hours Friday.

Q. What does the district's "zero tolerance" policy say?

A. Students who "possess, use or are under the influence of any controlled
substance at a school-related activity will be suspended for five days and
involuntarily transferred to another school in the district on their first
offense."

Q. Have other students been punished under the district's policy?

A. Yes. In 1998-99, 45 high school students were transferred because of
drug-or alchohol-related infractions. Last October, five Foothill High
athletes were transferred to other schools for allegedly smoking marijuana
during lunch break.

Q. What recourse do students and parents have?

A. They can appeal to the school board. If that fails, they can take the
matter to Orange County Superior Court.