NEWPORT BEACH : Trustees to Act on Drug-Use Penalties
The Newport Mesa Unified School District is expected to approve a new policy today that would mean immediate transfer for students found with drugs or alcohol on school grounds.
The transfer, to another school in the district, would apply in first offenses. Students found a second time with drugs or alcohol or under the influence of either would be expelled.
Although some districts expel students for the first offense, Newport Mesa board members said their policy sends a strong message.
“It’s a severe-enough penalty to get everybody’s focused attention on dealing with the problem,” board member Sherry Loofbourrow said.
Currently, students are suspended if they are found under the influence of drugs or alcohol on campus. But trustees and principals said that suspension does not seem to deter the use of the substances and that rather than feeling punished, the students treat the time off from school as a vacation.
“I don’t think anything else has worked,” said Lynne Bloomberg, the district’s newly appointed drug-prevention specialist. “I think this is fair, (the policy) is swift and sure.”
Loofbourrow added that each school has sufficient counseling services.
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