Pubdate: Tuesday,October 26,1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Section: Local News,page 1 Author: JILL LEACH-OCR Schools: The District Adds Flexibility To Its 'Zero Tolerance' Rules. TUSTIN - The school board Monday night made interim modifications to the district's strict "zero tolerance" rules with more changes to follow next month. By a 3-2 vote, the board decided to change some of the policy's language to give principals and a Student Placement Review Committee some flexibility in meting out punishments for first-offense drug and alcohol infractions. "We can't throw away students who are caught as a deterrent," said trustee Ann Albertson. The new policy says students who violate drug and alcohol rules my be subject to involuntary transfer or expulsion. The old policy required the transfer in all first-offense cases. A mandatory five-day suspension remains in effect. Another amendment says the policy covers drug or alcohol violations by students during, going to or coming from school-related activities, in addition to school-sponsored functions. The modifications were made in the wake of public out-cry from a recent case in which eight Foothill High School Student Council members were allowed to stay at their school after they acknowledged drinking vodka at a leadership camp. Board President Jane Bauer directed members of the district staff to strengthen the policy by drafting additional revisions for the board to consider at its Nov. 8 meeting. The revisions would include requiring students who violate "zero tolerance" rules to sign a behavior and attendance contract and requiring that the students and their parents agree to family drug and alcohol counseling. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart