FOUR BOYS' HIGH PUPILS SUSPENDED FOR DRUG USE

Four Napier Boys' High School pupils have been suspended for smoking
cannabis.

The school principal, Ross Brown, said the boys, from year 10, 11 or
12, would face a disciplinary hearing in front of the school's Board
of Trustees next week.

School staff were told by witnesses that the boys had smoked cannabis
on the school's boundary early last week.

"We investigated and found it to be true," Mr Brown
said.

The boys, two of whom boarded at the school's hostel, were suspended
after staff had talked to them and witnesses.

"We're obviously very disappointed. I can't remember the last time we
had a hearing for marijuana usage.

"It's no more common or less common with us than other schools," Mr
Brown said.

He said he had not reported the incident to police yet but would do so
after the hearing.

Sergeant in charge of youth services in Napier, Alan Potter, said he
would expect to hear from any school that had suspended a pupil for
cannabis use.

"The policy varies from school to school. Some have a policy of
reporting any find of cannabis to police.

"Colenso (William Colenso College) for example warn the kids twice at
the beginning of the year that if at anytime we suspect drugs we will
take appropriate steps, which may mean dogs," Sergeant Potter said.

He said it was "not an irregular occurrence" for a school to request a
drug dog search.