CHATHAM SCHOOLS MULL STRICTER DRUG POLICY

PITTBORO - Members of the Chatham County Board of Education are considering
a policy that would strengthen anti-drug rules in the school system. At a
recent board meeting, George Gregor-Holt, who heads up the district's
anti-drug program, presented a revised policy that proposes stiffer
penalties for students caught with alcohol or other drugs. During the
2001-02 school year through the beginning of May, there were 42 violations
of the policy, he told school board members. The year before, there were
fewer than 20 violations. Gregor-Holt speculated that the increase was
caused not be more drug use, but by more vigilant enforcement of the policy
and more awareness of new types of drugs being abused by students. School
officials have seen an increase in students abusing pharmaceutical drugs,
Gregor-Holt said. "Lots of times, they don't even know what it's going to
do to them. They take it because of what they've been told it will do, and
that's really dangerous," he said. The proposed policy would require
parents to attend substance abuse sessions and would change the number of
days a student would be suspended for a first and subsequent offenses. Most
parents are willing to attend such session with their children, Gregor-Holt
said. Gregor-Holt said that he would present a study to school board
members outlining the success of the anti-drug programs by tracking the
number of repeat offenders. Board member Susan Helmer said she was worried
that tougher penalties could keep some students from reporting drug
activity if they are worried about getting a friend in too much trouble.
The board could vote on the proposed policy as soon as June.