Schools’ policy on drugs relaxed

New rules draw mixed response from parents, residents

Before the change, the policy mandated restricting students from extracurricular activities, regardless of where and when students were caught with drugs or alcohol.

The old rules were strict, Pusateri said, but at least they sent a clear message and taught students to take responsibility for their actions.

‘‘I strongly agreed with the original policy,” said Pusateri, a mother of a 2008 South Carroll High School graduate.

‘‘My opinion is that students represent the school whether or not they are on school grounds,” she said. ‘‘It is illegal to be drinking and to be smoking underage. This is a point that is being missed.”

The five-member school board’s unanimous decision to change its policy on July 9 drew mixed reactions from residents and parents.

The change resulted from a push by parents who felt that the old policy was too strict and, in some cases, ended up hurting innocent students.

Under the old policy, students could be suspended even if they were caught in the company of underage drug or alcohol users. The old rule was difficult to enforce, because the school system could only investigate off-campus incidents by questioning students and had no way to prove if they were telling the truth.

Rita Misra, a parent of two Mount Airy Middle School students, said the new policy could be positive, especially for students who may have minor offenses.

Those students may benefit from being included in extracurricular activities, Misra said.

Carol Brown, president of the Carroll County Parent Teacher Association, said the association views the change as an opportunity for dialogue between parents and students.

The change encourages parents to teach students how to make positive choices without fearing a punishment, she said.

With the older policy, students were restricted from extracurricular activities even for minor offenses. This limited their ability to compete with other students for college scholarships or acceptance, Brown said.

‘‘What the board has tried to achieve is a balance that helps the kids make positive choices,” she said. ‘‘It puts a focus on education and discipline rather than punishment.”