Pubdate: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Author: Wes Orshoski, Jill Leach, Orange County Register BOARD LEVIES SEVERAL RESTRICTIONS ON 8 STUDENT LEADERS AT FOOTHILL Education: The 'Zero Tolerance' Case Is Decided Under The Policy'S 'Extreme Circumstances' Clause. TUSTIN - The school board announced Tuesday a series of punishments for eight Foothill High School student leaders exempted from the district's "zero tolerance" policy. The former Associated Student Body members will not be permitted to participate in student government or royalty court, serve as an officer of a club or captain of a sports team, or speak at graduation. Board President Jane Bauer said an "extreme circumstances" clause in the policy kept the students from being transferred to another school - as required by the policy. She refused to say what the circumstances were. The board agreed last week not to transfer the students. The eight students - and another who was exonerated - were accused of drinking alcohol at a leadership camp Aug. 26 in Santa Barbara. As a result, teachers and chaperones will make certain students clearly understand the policy before going on trips, said Mark Eliot, district spokesman. The school board plans to re-evaluate the policy at its Oct. 11 meeting. Last year, 45 Tustin students were among hundreds countywide transferred to other schools for violating zero-tolerance policies. In one case, five Foothill athletes were transferred after allegedly smoking marijuana at lunch. "I think the policy should have stood for those kids like it stood for our kids, until the policy is changed," said Jim Pierson, whose son was one of those five athletes. John Clark, a parent of one of the nine ASB students, said he is not completely happy with the board's decision. "They are going to be in a very confined environment the rest of their time at Foothill." Since zero tolerance was introduced in the district in 1997, this is the first case of the policy affecting such a high number of student leaders. Parents representing three of the students said at a press conference Tuesday that they will consider what steps are necessary to have their children's five-day suspensions wiped from school records. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D