Jul 10, 2008 5:15 pm US/Eastern
Carroll Co. Schools Revise Substance Abuse Policy
WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ) ―
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The Carroll County Board of Education changed the school system's substance abuse policy so that students who use drugs or alcohol off campus won't be suspended from extracurricular activities.
AP
The Carroll County School Board says what your children do off school grounds is up to you to handle. The Board has established a new policy when it comes to drugs and alcohol.
Derek Valcourt reports they're giving parents full authority.
Even if athletes or other students get caught using drugs or alcohol at an off-campus party, there's nothing Carroll County school leaders can do about it.
The policy change comes after administrators heard an earful from parents.
"It's not the school system's responsibility or concern. It's really a parent concern on responsibility. Let us take care of our children," said Dr. Charles Ecker, Carroll County Superintendent.
Carroll County joins Baltimore City and Howard County in not allowing its schools to punish kids for their off-campus behavior. But there are still some schools like those in Harford County where drinking and drugs off-campus will mean school punishment.
Some kids and parents are on opposite sides of the issue.
"If you do something off the school, it's not the school's problem. Really the parents should punish the kids who do stuff off school," said Brent Zamecki.
"I don't think it's such a bad idea to allow the school to do that," said Gretchen Zamecki.
"It's your parents' decision if they were going to let you go to the party in the first place, then they should have the consequence against you," said Billy Eckart.
"I don't know. I guess the parents would really have to be strong in their discipline because kids might think it's OK because the parents are making the rules," said Sue Eckart.
Substance abuse expert Mike Gimbel says often the schools are better equipped to help kids with drugs and alcohol abuse.
"The real problem here is that the kids who are using drugs and alcohol, they don't leave their behavior and their alcohol and drugs at home. Their alcohol comes to school sometimes. The drugs come to school, so the school needs to be a partner in all of this," said Gimbel.
The Board also considered keeping its previous policy with revisions like limiting the number of days students could be kept out of extra-curricular activities or allowing athletes to practice but not play.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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