Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 13, 1995                   TAG: 9509130073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SALEM BOARD BACKS TOUGH DRUG POLICY

The board supported a proposal by Director of Instruction Joe Kirby to give the same punishment for possession or use of drugs or alcohol as for distribution of the substances.

"I think the message is very clear and up front that we mean business when it comes to drug and alcohol offenses," Superintendant Wayne Tripp said.

There appeared to be consensus among the four board members present in support of the revised policy.

Board member Gerald Pace, who did not attend the meeting because of business conflicts, was not in favor of "zero tolerance" when the board asked administrators to revise the policy in August.

At that meeting, Pace questioned whether a zero-tolerance policy would allow students to recover after making a mistake.

Under the current policy, first-time use or possession offenders are automatically suspended from school for up to 10 days.

On the second offense, the student is suspended until the Disciplinary Review Committee examines the case and considers the student for expulsion or long-term suspension.

A long-term suspension, Tripp explained, is more than 10 days but no more than a school year.

Under the proposed policy, students would receive the latter punishment for first offenses.

The only question raised by residents Tuesday came from a parent concerned that counseling would not be available under the proposed policy.

"There's no mention of counseling," said Albert Conner, whose 16-year-old son attends Salem High School. "Where's the help for the child?''

Tripp assured Conner that counseling is available to student alcohol and drug offenders, quoting a section from the current policy that requires the student to complete some form of intervention or treatment program. The Disciplinary Review Committee also is part of the counseling process, Tripp said.

If the School Board passes the policy at October's meeting, Salem will have the toughest drug- and alcohol-abuse policy in the valley.

Neither Roanoke nor Roanoke County expels first-time offenders who use or possess alcohol or drugs.