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Show School cracks down on drugs, alcohol by Nan Chalat "You will hear no sermon or moralizing. I have a simple message for you. Alcohol and drug use or possession on this campus is outlawed by the school and by state law," Park City High School Principal Jack Dozier told students at a special assembly FYiday morning. The assembly was called in the wake -of a recent discovery of marijuana in two students" lockers at the school. "If you are found with an alcoholic beverage or in possession of a controlled substance there will be one process: You will be suspended immediately. You will be turned over to the police and your name will be submitted to the board of education with a recommendation for explu-sion." explu-sion." Dozier's comments were directed x to the entire student body at the high school. He also invi(ed school board president Ralph Hale, high school community council chairman Mike Sloane and school superintendent Tony Mitchell to be present at the assembly "in order to show students the severity of the message." He also told students if they doubted the school's right to search their lockers for drugs they were "gravely mistaken." He cited last week's supreme court decision guaranteeing the school's right to search "your person and your personal effects." "The privacy of your locker extends only to other students, not to the school. We have the right to inspect your locker and your purse and we will do it," Dozier said. He added the school will only exeaise that right when there is reasonable cause, but he warned students that reasonable cause could be anything from an anonymous-phone anonymous-phone tip to the suggestion of a teacher. "And if drugs are found in your locker, don't try to tell me 'I wonder how that got there." If it is in your possession you just bought it." After stating the school's drug and alcohol policy Dozier told the students the message was delivered with "concern, not anger." "I've been working with kids like you for 30 years and I have loved everv minute of it. I'm proud of this school and of the new pride I see in our students." Dozier added he felt the majority of the students were not involved with drugs and alcohol, but he said future instances of drug possession on campus could lead to restraints on all of the students. The high school council had asked Dozier to consider closing the high school campus during school hours if there were any future incidents, he said. Students currently are allowed to leave the school during lunch and free periods. A closed campus would mean the students could not leave during school hours. School board president Ralph Hale added he felt badly that the actions of a few students could give the school a bad reputation. "We appreciate you and we want you to think very seriously about the consequences of drug or alcohol abuse." The two students who admitted to possession of the marijuana are currently on indefinite suspension. |