District reviews drug policy It considers punishing students for off-campus drug, alcohol use. Monday, April 23, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | A policy being pitched to the school board would allow the district to punish students caught doing drugs or drinking alcohol outside of school. Administrators for months have been wrestling with how to restructure the drug and alcohol policy. While working to put the policy together, student assistance coordinator Bob Pierfry said he contacted other districts in Warren and Hunterdon counties and the Lehigh Valley. "The majority of schools don't deal with issues outside of school but they are interested (in doing so)," Pierfry said. Pierfry said the district is "not looking to play detective." The new part of the policy centers on a quantum of proof, meaning several sources would have to confirm the allegation. "If we find out information and we can confirm it, we have to do something," Pierfry said. "The school district has a legal and moral obligation regardless of where it occurs." That "something" could mean holding students out of sports and graduation ceremonies. The current policy calls for the district to suspend for three days a student caught under the influence at school or during school activities. The student also is banned from extracurricular activities for 30 days. Three violations could lead to expulsion. The proposed policy keeps those penalties but extends the scope to cover off-school hours. The push for the policy came from an incident this past spring. The school received reports of students drinking during a weekend trip to Seaside Heights, N.J., following the Senior Banquet. The policy change received support during last week's school board meeting. Board member Bernie Brotzman cited recent drunken-driving wrecks involving teenagers across the Lehigh Valley. "We did spend a great deal of time on it," Brotzman said. "I don't think we can avoid it." The board Policy Committee will now consider the changes. Committee Chairman Chafik Zarbatany didn't want to comment on specifics of the policy until he had more time to go over it. "It's tougher than the policy we have now; I think we need it," Zarbatany said. The full board may consider adopting the policy at the April 30 meeting. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2007 The Express-Times. Used with permission.