Pubdate: Sat, 25 Sept 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Section: News,page 1 Author: Wes Orshoski FOOTHILL STUDENTS CAN STAY EDUCATION:'ZERO tolerance' policy aside,teens won't be transferred to Tustin High. TUSTIN-Nine Foothill High School student leaders accused of consuming alcohol at a leadership camp last month will not be transferred to another school under the district's "zero tolerance" policy. After meeting with the students, their families and attorneys for more than 12 hours Wednesday, and part of Friday, the Tustin School Board reversed the district's decision to transfer the students to Tustin High, according to two parents and their attorney. Director of Student Services Alex McConahay called the students and their lawyers to let them know they wouldn't be transferred. But the board does plan to put some restrictions on the students. the parents won't get further details until possibly Monday, said Ernie Ching, lawyer for six of the students. The board is still deciding on the restrictions, he said. One student, Associated Student Body President Jim Weir, was exonerated, Ching said. "(The board) has been as fair as we could hope for," said Jim Weir's father, Tom Weir. "So I feel they spent the time to do what was right." Tustin Unified spokesman Mark Eliot said he couldn't comment because of student privacy concerns. On Aug. 26, the nine students - eight seniors and one junior - allegedly were caught or confessed to drinking at the Orange County Leadership Council Camp at the University of California, Santa Barbara. "I guess the good news is (school board members) had some light of realism in their thinking," said parent Patti Clark, whose son is among the nine. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea