Schools Unlikely to Change Drug Policy
School district officials said they are unlikely to change their “zero tolerance” drug policy despite a judge’s decision to postpone the suspension of one student who allegedly violated the rule.
Judge Robert Thomas ruled this week that Ryan Huntsman could return to Corona del Mar High School pending a March 17 hearing with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District on his suspension.
Huntsman, 18, had been suspended for five days and then transferred to Newport Harbor High School after police reported to school administrators that they discovered a plastic bag and a pipe in the student’s car during a traffic stop. Police did not cite the teenager on drug charges but ticketed him for noise pollution. The student denied using marijuana and said the pipe belonged to a friend.
“I’m sure we will be talking about zero tolerance again,” board President James M. Ferryman said, “but that doesn’t mean we’re talking about changing it.”
Many board members support the district’s policy because alcohol- and drug-related problems on campus have dropped dramatically since the policy was adopted in 1991.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
