Tougher Drug and Alcohol Policy at MHS
by Joan R. Simon
(December 10, 2003) At their December 9 meeting, the Mamaroneck
School Board upped the consequences for students using or possessing
alcohol at school. They adopted a change in the Code of
Conduct which will require a minimum of
five days suspension from school for any violation. Previously,
only drug usage was subject to the five day suspension. In
addition, the policy recommends that offenders be referred to
the school drug and alcohol counselor
and enrolled in the 9-week drug and alcohol education
series operated by the Larchmont Mamaroneck
Community Counseling Center.
The changes come at the urging of R.A.D.A.R. (Responsible
Action: Drug and Alcohol Resource), a school and community
based group that works to educate parents and improve communication
between parents and children on drug and alcohol issues.
MHS drug and alochol counselor Helene
Fremder noted that the changes
"give the superintendent more clout" and provide "clear consequences."
"We are very pleased that alcohol has been put on the same
level as other drugs," said Janet Buchbinder, a parent member
of R.A.D.A.R. "The fact that it is being weighed
equally is an important step forward in recognizing that
alcohol is a drug and the issues of underage drinking are
very serious
and should be treated as such."
Matt Devine, MHS senior and student council liaison to the
school board, was not as sanguine. "I understand that drugs/alcohol
are a major problem with MHS students, but I do not believe
that this adjustment to the Code of
Conduct will result in anything positive," he said. Further, he was concerned
about how the change would affect athletes. "Punishing offenders is difficult
for coaches because they can never be sure who the offenders
are. Often times student
athletes have been suspended under false accusations while
others who broke the contract walked away unpunished. A
student is rarely ever caught for
breaking contract, and I believe that this change does nothing
to address that. Students will be angered with the change,
but other than that I cannot
foresee any other effect," he concluded.
Violators at the high school are reported to the Village
of Mamaroneck's Youth Officer, Gerard Ferraro. Those at
the Hommocks go to Town of Mamaroneck's Youth Officer, Bob
Reynolds.
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