The consequences will come down harder now on Westbrook students caught in a first-time violation of the newly revised drug and alcohol policy, approved by the Westbrook School Committee last week.
With the new policy, students in Grades 6 through 12 will be allowed three strikes instead of two before being suspended for a year from extra-curricular activities. That first strike, however, will be more severe in the hopes of preventing further infractions. A second will be significantly more severe than the first, and a third will result in a one-year suspension.
While the students are serving either their first or second suspensions, they will be allowed to practice in their activities. They won’t be allowed to compete, but by allowing them to practice the school board is hoping to keep them involved.
The committee has been working on the policy for the last four months, with extensive input from parents and residents. Colleen Hilton, school committee chairwoman, said she thought the previous policy, which suspended students for two weeks for a first offense and one year for a second offense, wasn’t strict enough up front and jumped to full suspension too quickly.
“I like adding the second step because going from two weeks to a whole season was too dramatic,” she said this week. By punishing students but allowing them to continue with their activities, Hilton said, it keeps the students involved in the school.
Steve Rand, parent of a Westbrook High student, agreed with Hilton, saying he favored disciplining students but keeping them involved. “It makes them pay a price,” said Rand. “But it doesn’t shun the student.”
The new policy, which took effect after the school committee voted in favor of it Nov. 8, will be retroactive and apply to students currently serving suspensions from activities. Those included are at least 10 athletes suspended from sports for being at a party where alcohol was present prior to the beginning of the school year. Two received one-year suspensions.
Following the suspension of these athletes, parents of students punished and others in the community asked the school committee to consider changing the policy. Most, including students, thought it was too severe to jump from a two-week suspension to a one-year suspension. Several educators in the community also thought the committee should consider changing the policy. A major concern was that the policy be an educational experience as opposed to a simple punitive measure.
The school drug and alcohol policy prohibits students from using alcohol or drugs and from being present anywhere alcohol or drugs are being used by other students. Many said they thought that was a difficult thing for students to avoid. The policy also extends beyond school grounds and beyond the school year.
As written previously, the code of conduct mandated a two-week suspension from competitive activities for the first offense. The student was allowed to practice after the first week but would miss at least one game and forfeit leadership roles on a team for the year. He or she was also required to see a substance abuse counselor. For a second offense, the student would be automatically suspended from activities for a calendar year.
The new policy applies to all competitive extra-curricular activities, including sports, band and academic decathlon, among others. A first offense requires a four-week suspension with practice after two weeks. The student is required to see a counselor at least three times.
For a second offense, a student will be suspended for 10 weeks, but is allowed to practice after two weeks and must see a counselor at least three times. All other rules apply. A third infraction results in suspension from all extra-curricular activities for a calendar year.
For non-competitive activities, such as Key Club, students are allowed to participate, but must complete 30 hours of community service. If the activity is community service-based, hours spent will go toward their community service.
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