CHRISMAN STUDENTS COULD FACE ZERO-TOLERANCE FOR ALCOHOL, DRUG USE

CHRISMAN - The Chrisman Board of Education Monday night discussed
implementing more stringent penalties for students caught using drugs
and alcohol.

Board member Scott Anderson raised the issue during an athletic
committee report.

According to Anderson, the school's athletic code addressed only drug
use through a drug testing policy but alcohol infractions were left
to the discretion of individual coaches. He noted that produced
inconsistent responses because the coaches exhibited different
levels of tolerance for alcohol use.

"They've (coaches) got enough to deal with," said Anderson. "We've
got to take control of this."

The athletic committee recommended a mandatory 30-day suspension from
participation in extra curricular activities for any student with an
alcohol infraction and a 90-day suspension for a driving under the
influence offense.

Some board members thought the suspensions were too lenient and by
the end of the meeting the amount of time doubled.

"We hope the penalties are stiff enough that it will deter students,"
said Anderson.

Board member Dave Riggen questioned why the penalties for alcohol use
are more severe than those implemented for positive drug tests. He
said Chrisman students that have a first positive test do not face
any consequences if they participate in a counseling program.

Principal Terry Furnish replied the athletic committee considered
several issues in applying more stringent punishment for alcohol use.
One matter referred back to when the drug testing policy was first
created and a previous board of education wanted it to be a tool for
helping students rather than punishment. Furnish explained that is
why first offenders can avoid consequences if they go to counseling.

Privacy was another issued that Furnish cited. He said the school's
drug tests are confidential and only administrators and parents know
when a student tests positive for drug use.

Furnish noted that DUI charges are public knowledge.

"If it's public knowledge, the community will expect us to do
something," said Furnish.

Board member Leslie Henry acknowledged that the administration tries
to keep the results of the drug test confidential, while noting the
reality is that all of the students know when someone has a positive
drug test.

An issue of fairness was raised by board member Steve Rogers. He said
stiffer penalties for DUI offenses won't apply for students without
licenses who still may get caught using alcohol.

Anderson justified the difference by stating the committee regards
DUI as a serious issue.

"You are basically driving a weapon," said Anderson.

Furnish added the committee thought it was time to take an important
stand against student alcohol use.

"The drinking is a major problem here," said Furnish. "We haven't had
a positive drug test among the athletes for a long time."

Board president Judy Wyatt agreed that drug use has declined
significantly since the district implemented testing.

The board members asked Furnish to change the policy handbook to make
the following recommendations consistent with existing text:

Chrisman students producing a positive drug test or involved in an
alcohol related incident will now face a 60-day suspension from
extracurricular activities unless they agree to participate in
counseling, which will cut the suspension time to 30 days;

Students involved in a DUI with either alcohol or drugs will have a
180-day suspension from extracurricular activities. The suspension
will be cut to 90 days if the students agree to counseling.

The suspension from activities includes a revocation of permission to
drive to school and park on school property.

A board vote on the matter is expected prior to the upcoming
selection of cheerleaders and dance team members.