Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 Source: Coulee News, The (WI) Copyright: 2008 The Coulee News Contact: http://www.couleenews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4683 Author: Matthew Perenchio, Assistant Editor Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) WEST SALEM EXPELS 6TH STUDENT The West Salem School District expelled its sixth student of the school year on Monday - likely the most expulsions it has ever had. Numbers seven and eight could be on their way in early February as more drugs were found on school grounds last Friday. The latest student expulsion - a freshmen girl - is the sixth for the 2007-08 school year. All have been of high school students, and all have been for possession of drugs on school grounds. Although complete records could not be found at the school or with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, West Salem administrators said six expulsions is the highest known in the district's history. The district had five expulsions in the 2002-03 school year, according to the DPI. In the last four years, though, the district had just five expulsions. Superintendent Nancy Burns said the board will likely consider two more expulsions next month after drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the cars of two students last week. Law enforcement agencies conducted a drug search with a drug-sniffing dog at the high school on Jan. 18. According to the West Salem Police Department, officers recovered drug paraphernalia in one vehicle and marijuana and drug paraphernalia in another; citation were issued to the students, who were both 18-year-old males. Although expulsions have become more frequent, Burns said the district has not changed its policy; the district has had a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs and drug-related items on school grounds. However, she said more drugs are being found due to the opportunity to conduct drug searches as well as circumstantial situations. As for the latter, she said drugs have been found on students when police have apprehended them for separate incidents. "We have had a greater availability of a drug-searching dog, and ... we have just really have had (drugs) fall out of purses," Burns said. "It's being addressed as it always has been. It's just literally falling into our laps." While the severity of each expulsion is based on evidence and the student's situation - ranging from permanent expulsion to being re-admitted if criteria are met - Burns said the district will continue to treat drugs on school grounds seriously. "We have always told law enforcement (agencies) that if they have availability to the (drug-searching) dogs to bring them as they so desire," Burns said. "We want to prove that our school is clean." In cooperation with the WSPD, Burns said the district will host an Onalaska drug enforcement officer to speak at the Heider Center on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. The event, open to the public, will focus on how to create drug-resistant youth; topics will include traits of drug users and what drugs and drug paraphernalia smell and look like. Burns said she plans on writing an open letter to invite families to attend. "As a community, we must protect our youth," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D