JERSEY SHORE - As the Jersey Shore Area School Board continues to review its policies, the school board held a special committee meeting Thursday to review policy 227, which deals with controlled substances and alcohol.
In a draft of a revised policy, which was modeled after one used by Keystone Central School District, it would make in effect 365 days of the year and during both on- and off-campus activities.
The policy would affect the eligibility of a student's participation in both extra- and co-curricular activities.
The group came to the conclusion that the penalty would suspend them from any extra activities, except for those, like marching band and choir, that may have an affect on their grade.
Reed Mellinger, high school principal, said when there are extra benefits, such as a trip, that the student would then be ineligible to participate in.
Dr. Dorothy Chappel, assistant superintendent, also said she believes graduation should not be part of the activities a student is banned from.
"What we're talking about ... is pretty much a privilege," she said. "Graduation is sometimes more for the family."
Chappel added that the graduation ceremony is more tied to academics than athletics, clubs and dances. The board agreed that besides extraordinary circumstances that graduation should be off-limits.
One part of the discussion focused on when should a student be punished because of illegal substances - cited, arrested or convicted.
The committee was originally set for an arrest policy, but later decided on cited and/or convicted. And since the policy is in affect for 365 days, the student could be punished by sitting out games or activities during the following year.
The committee will meet again before the Nov. 12 work session of the board to further discuss changes before presenting it for a first reading.
