AC SCHOOL BOARD LOOKS AT CHANGES TO POLICIES ON DRUGS, WEAPONS

CLINTON - Anderson County students and their parents will likely see
changes next school year in the Code of Student Conduct and the
zero-tolerance policies against drugs and weapons.

In a joint meeting of the board's Operations and Policy committees
Wednesday night at the Robert L. Jolley County Administration Building, the
committees approved several changes and discussed others. Any changes would
have to be approved by the board at three readings before going into effect.

Among the discussions:

* Removing camouflage from the clothing prohibited under the dress code.
Board members said there's so many types of camouflage now and this
prohibition came about as fallout from the Columbine school shooting.
Committees approved recommending this change to board.

* Removing over-the-counter medication and prescription medication from
under the zero tolerance policy, although it would remain under the drug
policy. If this is approved, students could bring this medication to
school, check it in at the school office with a doctor's and
parent/guardian's permission slip, and be called to the office during the
day to take it. However, the student would not be expelled if these drugs
were found on them unless the student attempted to sell them or give them
to other students. The school board's attorney Jerry Shattuck reportedly
disagrees with this removal of these kind of drugs from under the zero
tolerance policy.

* Making changes to the zero tolerance policy so that items such as pen
knives would not be classified as weapons and the student possessing them
expelled from school under the zero tolerance policy.

In other action, board members discussed that the drug testing of student
athletes would be a contract placed out for bids. Board Chairman John
Burrell, a physician, has been doing this drug testing at his offices in
Lake City. However, Burrell is moving his practice to LaFollette in
Campbell County so the drug testing will end at the end of April.