ISSAQUAH MODIFIES ATHLETIC DRUG POLICY

School District Makes Penalties for First-Time Offenders Less Harsh

ISSAQUAH -- A new drug policy offers softer penalties for Issaquah
School District athletes who participate in drug and alcohol
assessment, but broadens the application of penalties for second or
third violations.

The policy, which takes effect this fall, was released Thursday after
the school board approved rewriting the rules last spring.

"I think it's just good policy that takes into account that we're not
a penal institution, we're an educational institution," said school
board member Mike Winkler, one of the advocates for change in May.

The first of two significant changes affects student athletes who are
found, for the first time, in possession of or under the influence of
drugs or alcohol. Under the district's current policy, that student
would be disqualified from sports for the remainder of the season or
60 days, whichever is longer.

Now, that suspension could be reduced to just two weeks, if the
student takes part in a drug and alcohol assessment and follows the
recommendations.

The second key change involves second and third violations, the
penalty for which remains, respectively, suspension for the year and
a permanent ban.

However, under the old policy, those penalties were applied only if
the student was busted while actually playing the sport.

Under the new rules, it's considered a violation no matter where or
when the offense happens.

"If they make the second mistake, then I do think it's OK to be
harsher," Winkler said.

The district modeled the policy very closely on one in place in the
Lake Washington School District.

"All the sanctions are the same," said district spokeswoman Sara
Niegowski. But the point was also to find a way to keep students
involved in school.

"For a lot of students, sports is what keeps them in school," Niegowski said.