BRISTOL VIRGINIA SCHOOL PANEL LOOKS AT SYSTEM'S ROLE IN DRUG FIGHT

How can students be kept from using drugs? Should expulsion rule over
suspension when student drug offenders are caught?

Those were just two of the questions tossed around at a Monday night
meeting of the Bristol Virginia School Board.

According to Patty Bowers, director of student services and special
education, the school system's role in keeping kids off drugs boils down to
"prevention and intervention" and "balancing consequences and student needs
for education."

Bowers presented a sample drug and alcohol program to the school board,
outlining ways the school system might deter students from using drugs. She
also offered examples of how the school system might discipline pupils
caught with drugs.

"The generation we have before us is the most educated generation (when it
comes to) substance abuse," Bowers said.

She added that through research she and others involved in developing a new
drug and alcohol program believe that the school system needs to combat
student drug use through "discipline built on increments" and by giving
"lots of attention to intervention."

To accomplish those goals, Bowers suggested a program that would set up a
structured system of discipline for students who violate school substance
policies. Such a system might include suspensions of undetermined lengths
on a student's first offense and expulsion options for multiple offenses.

Board member Jaymie Derden seemed to agree with a structured disciplinary
process.

"We need to take positive measures to show that we mean what we say ...
that we're not just saying, 'yeah, we want to keep kids off drugs and
alcohol,' " she said.

On the matter of intervention, Bowers' presentation included the option of
offering students who violate drug and alcohol policies treatment from
individuals outside the school system.

No action was taken regarding the program. Board members said they will
continue discussing it at future meetings.