MANY SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS ARE LINKED TO DRUG, ALCOHOL ABUSE

Superintendent Says Others Were Banned For Fighting,
Assault

There have been 54 suspensions handed out to students in the
Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district so far this year, with 24 due to
drug and/or alcohol offences in the district's high schools. The other
major offences causing suspensions so far this year also include
fighting (12) and assaults (five).

Superintendent Mike Munro said that while it's "not uncommon" for
students to experiment with drugs and alcohol, they can be suspended
for three to 10 days for a first offence, along with the possibility
that the students and their families be referred to local social
agencies for assistance.

He said after three drug/alcohol offences within an 18-month period,
students can be suspended for up to 20 days and are automatically
referred to the district's disciplinary committee that deals with more
serious incidents and committee members determine the next steps.
After four offences, Munro said the district then has to determine if
the student has medical issues and requires some sort of intervention.
Students in this category are often referred to appropriate social
agencies and their academic programs usually continue outside of
regular school instruction.

However, Munro said for students who take alcohol and/or drugs to
school with the purpose of selling, the penalties are much more severe.

"These students are trying to make money off the weaknesses of others
and we take a very dim view of this," Munro said.

"Students under 16 who participate in these activities can be
suspended for a full calendar year, with the matter also referred to
the discipline committee, while those over 16 can be expelled. The
police are often involved in these cases and charges can be brought
forward, as has been the case in many instances over the years."

Munro said statistics around which of the district's high schools have
the most drug/alcohol suspensions are not available, but in his
experience they are typically spread out equally between all of them.

"There are other options and programs available to us rather than
kicking these kids out of school or suspending them for long periods
of time," he said. "The current policy has been in place for 15 years
and it's now under review."