CONCERNS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL DRUG BUST

Ron Francis says the high school students arrested in this month's drug
sting should be punished, but not with felony charges that could follow
them for the rest of their lives. Misdemeanors and community service will
do just fine, he added. Francis was among several speakers Monday night at
a community forum at Ebenezer United Church of Christ in Burlington. Local
pastors and activists organized the event to provide information and
instruction to parents and residents about the challenges now facing the
students. "The humiliation should be punishment enough," said Francis, a
Greensboro resident with grandchildren in the Alamance-Burlington School
System. The meeting was held nearly three weeks after authorities swept
into area schools and arrested 50 students as part of a five-month
undercover drug operation.

The arrests, which made national news, outraged many local parents, who
said the undercover officers coerced the students into the illegal
activities. About 300 attended Monday's meeting, and though they often
applauded the speakers, they weren't permitted to address them. The
audience was allowed to submit written questions, and speakers said they'd
provide answers later. Francis, who received a standing ovation during his
remarks, said he'll keep the pressure on the school board and the Alamance
County District Attorney's office.

He urged others to join him, and reminded the crowd that they had the power
to kick elected officials out of office. Other speakers criticized the
school system for not adhering to its own policies. Patsy Simpson said
school officials initially gave parents incorrect information about
appealing the long-term suspensions given to the students. "We, as a
community, must hold these individuals accountable for their actions," she
said. Simpson said the Alamance-Burlington school board and other school
officials had been invited to the forum.

A school system spokeswoman said Monday afternoon that the school board's
regular meeting, scheduled for the same time as the community forum, would
prevent officials from attending the event. A spokeswoman for Alamance
County District Attorney Rob Johnson said no one from her office would be
attending the forum because officials weren't permitted to speak about the
pending cases against the students. Other speakers urged parents to keep
close tabs on the affected children, many of whom are now enrolled at an
alternative school. Education is vitally important, they said, and now
parents must make sure the students don't slip through the cracks. "We pray
that something good will come out of this," Rev. Larry Covington, pastor at
Ebenezer, told the crowd. "In fact, we know it will."