SUSPENSIONS AWAIT DOPE SMOKERS

ALMA - Administrators at a Pictou County school expect to begin
doling out suspensions to potentially dozens of dope smoking students
by next week.

Northumberland Regional High School in Alma launched an internal
investigation last week after 13 students were charged and dozens of
others were issued formal cautions following a dramatic police sweep
of a convenience store parking lot near the school on Feb. 17.

Principal Preston Lockhart said Wednesday roughly 35 students could
be suspended as part of the ongoing school investigation that
involves interviewing students, gathering information and viewing
RCMP surveillance tapes.

"We want to ensure we have accurate information and that we deal with
each student involved individually," he said.

A helicopter, police dog, and 10 RCMP officers in a number of
cruisers were involved in the noon-hour drug bust, which one witness
described as movie-like.

According to reports, some students openly smoked marijuana during
their lunch break and were even aware of the video cameras.

Although the arrests and surveillance occurred off school grounds,
officials at Chignecto-Central regional school board have maintained
it is still a school issue because it was during school hours.

"From my point of view this is about changing behaviour, not about
punishment, although there are consequences in our student code of
conduct," Mr. Lockhart said regarding the upcoming suspensions.

"It's about making school and learning priorities" for these students.

The school's code of conduct recommends five-day suspensions for
drug-related activity, plus RCMP involvement, which has already
occurred, and referral to the school board's disciplinary committee.

The principal said that committee could suspend students even longer,
including for the remainder of the school year.

Northumberland High has roughly 1,100 students in Grades 9 to 12.

Students facing criminal charges are expected to appear in provincial
and youth courts this month or in April.