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they favor a firmer or more lenient drug and alcohol policy than what is currently in force. Why not give the option of endorsing the same policy? How many parents know what the present policy states even after the Rappahannock News printed the regulations on alcohol .and drugs last w eek ?
Parents are asked in question number two if they think the present policy is being enforced. How could they know ?
When the school board deals with discipline problems relating to drugs and alcohol, they do so in executive session without releasing any specific details on the offense. We can assume that youngsters required to attend drug and alcohol counseling have been caught violating drug and alcohol regulations. Therefore, we can deduce that the regulations are being enforced—at least among the kids brought before the board. Beyond that, parents have no reliable information.
In question four, the school board asks if first offenders should be given less punishment than students with previous records.
Everything else being equal, repeat offenders should definitely be punished more severely. In asking the question, however, the school board implies that there are students who have repeatedly ignored the regulations on alcohol and drugs. This is not the case. With one exception, no student has been brought before the school board a second time for a drug related offense in the past several years.
The questionnaire notes that currently, drug and alcohol offenses are reported "only to the County Sheriff I sic I ” and asks parents if they feel cases should also be reported to the state jtolice.
Has the board asked the understaffed state police force here how they feel about investigating drug and alcohol cases at the high school? The trooper assigned to this area frequently must patrol Shenandoah County and very often Page County as well as Rappahannock. If the state police are asked to investigate, they will but what can they do that our local law enforcement officials can’t?
All drug offenses at the high school to date fall into the category of misdemeanor. No one’s been found with heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs or enough marijuana to be charged with possession with intent to distribute, a felony.
First time possession of marijuana comes under Virginia’s first offender statute and carries a maximum penalty of one year’s probation. The state police seldom devote time to investigating this type of offense.
Sheriff W. A. Buntin has repeatedly stated that his department has investigated every drug and alcohol violation reported by the schools. Principals of both schools say they have an excellent working relationship with Buntin's offic#1.
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