SCHOOL DRUG POLICY ALTERED

Shasta Union District Will Offer Intervention Plan For Offenders

For the first time in a decade, the Shasta Union High School District has
changed its policy about how to punish students who are caught with drugs or
alcohol on campus.

Beginning Monday, students caught on campus with an illegal substance or
drug paraphernalia will be transferred to a continuation school in the
district, unless they agree to complete a new five-week drug intervention
program, Superintendent Mike Stuart said.

The district's board of trustees voted 4-0 this week in favor of the policy
change. Trustee Diana Anderson did not attend the meeting.

District officials are still "hashing out" specific details, Stuart said.

Under the new policy, only first-time offenders will have the option to
participate in the drug intervention program. Students who opt for the
program must attend a session once a week for five weeks with their parents
and will be allowed to attend classes on a probationary basis, Stuart said.

The program will likely feature guest speakers -- such as doctors and law
enforcement officials -- who will talk to students about the dangers of
drugs and alcohol.

"We want to help parents and kids have better communication skills," he
said. "What we think it will do is make kids at least think twice before
bringing marijuana and beer on campus. We don't think it will be a cure-all
. . . but we think it has promise."

The revamped policy also incorporates punishment from the previous
guidelines, including a five-day suspension, a police citation to appear in
juvenile court and referral to a counselor, he said.

Although specific numbers aren't available, Stuart said between 70 and 100
drug and alcohol-related cases were reported last year on the district's
eight campuses.

Stuart said the district will probably use grant money to pay for any
expenses relating to the intervention program. Although he wasn't sure how
much that might be, Stuart said it shouldn't be too costly.

Students who refuse to participate in the program will be transferred to an
alternative high school -- such as Pioneer High School -- for a maximum of
two semesters, Stuart said.

Second-time offenders will automatically be transferred to a continuation
school for a year. Continuation schools are designed for students who have
behavior or attendance problems or aren't working well in a traditional
school environment, Stuart said.

Trustee Constance Pepple said she supports the change in policy.

"I'm thrilled with the idea. I think it's a very proactive step," Pepple
said. "It's a great opportunity for us to say 'You're not a bad kid, but
something is not working for you, and what can we do to help.' "

"We just don't want to tolerate this on our campuses," Stuart said. "If a
kid can't go from 7:30 (a.m.) to 2:30 (p.m.) without consuming alcohol or
drugs, they have a serious problem."