East Peoria Community High School students will now be offered a second chance if caught under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The final version of a substance abuse expulsion policy was approved Monday night at the District 309 school board meeting, but with a vote of 6-1, it was still met with some opposition.
Under the policy, students found to be under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, an inhalant or possessing drug paraphernalia or a “look alike substance” would receive up to 10 days of external suspension before being offered a new intervention contract.
The policy also includes prohibiting the use of performance enhancing drugs as defined by the Illinois High School Association.
The intervention contract would allow first time offenders to avoid expulsion if they agree to a list of conditions.
Prior to the contract, a student was immediately presented to the board for expulsion, said superintendent Cliff Cobert.
Although he praised the overall policy, board member Garth Knobeloch said he is concerned about straying from the original concept: that a student should be able to admit that they need help without being punished.
Board president Michael Joseph also expressed his doubts, specifically about students only being required to pass five courses per year after returning to school.
That portion of the contract still allows students to fail up to two courses.
“I’m concerned still, and will therefore have to vote no on this” Joseph said, adding that he applauded the effort. “But we are a school. We are not a drug clinic, and I do not think that we have the proper appreciation for school needs, for academics in this contract.”
Added Joseph, “When it comes to this, we’ve decided to put the bar pretty low, and I’m concerned we’re not really going after kids, pushing them up a hill that’s not very fun to climb and letting them see they can be a lot more if they just try.”
Once an offender returns to school, other agreements in the contract include: enrollment in a substance abuse treatment program approved by the school, drug testing at least twice per month and no unexcused absences from school or excessive excused absences.
Participating students who violate the contract would be presented to the school board for up to two years of expulsion.
In other action and discussion, the board:
• approved a tentative tax levy. Superintendent Cliff Cobert estimated the district’s Equalized Assessed Valuation to be $465,000,000, a 6.99 percent increase. The total extension increase would be 6.83 percent from what the district received this school year.
