Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 12, 1995 TAG: 9507120065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Long isn't leaving the board; she's just swapping posts with Franke, who for the last two and a half years has served as its vice chairman.
Long already is familiar with the job of vice chairwoman. Before taking over as interim chairwoman in January 1993 when former Chairman John I. Moore was not reappointed by City Council, Long served as vice chairwoman for 10 years.
"It's been a pleasure," Long said of her tenure as chairwoman. However, she did not say why she was stepping down.
The board also approved on second reading the standards of student conduct. Although they were approved without modification, those guidelines may not be the ones Salem students will receive next fall.
At last month's School Board meeting, board member Glenn Thornhill Jr. recommended a change in the school system's drug possession policy.
As it stands, the policy calls for the expulsion of students found dealing drugs. But students found with drugs in their possession are expelled only on a second offense.
It's that two-strikes-and-you're-out policy that Thornhill took issue with.
"I don't like this thing called first offense and second offense," Thornhill said. "Personally, I would like to see a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, drugs and weapons as properly defined."
The other board members present at the June meeting - Franke and Long - appeared to agree.
"Sometimes the message you send is very important," Superintendent Wayne Tripp said at the June meeting. "It appears that the message the board wants to send is the possession of drugs or violence will not be tolerated in Salem schools."
However before board members vote to change the policy, Long requested an evaluation of other school systems' drug policies.
The report is scheduled to be presented to the board at the Aug. 15 meeting. If board members choose to change the drug policy, the standards of conduct would be amended.
by CNB