Students Question Drug/Alcohol Policy

The student representative to the School Committee told the panel on Wednesday that many classmates are unhappy with changes to the s.

Student William Travascio spoke forcefully, making three major points based on feedback he has received from classmates.

• That the student body should have been involved in writing the policy
• That the policy’s year-round authority may violate students’ rights
• That the policy is unfair because it only applies to students who participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports or clubs

“I believe that we should take a second look at the drug, alcohol and (chemical) health policy so that we can include as many students as possible,” he said.

Several committee members applauded Travascio for taking his student representative role seriously.

That doesn’t mean they agreed that the district should take a second look at the policy, which the committee has approved and takes effect March 17.

The policy is in effect 365 days a year and requires students who violate it to sit and talk about drug and alcohol issues with school guidance or nursing staff, or someone else approved by the school administration. 

Students who fail to fulfill the talk requirement will be suspended from extracurriculars.

Superintendent Lynne Celli said after the meeting that Swampscott High School students were involved in making the changes to the existing drug and alcohol policy.

A group of administrators, teachers, students and parents drew up the policy changes, she said.

By law, students have a right to attend classes. The administration, however, can withhold students' extracurricular activities. 

The chemical health changes came in response to a rash of drug and alcohol problems involving students at the start of the school year.

Travascio said the students who were part of the task force that wrote the policy changes were picked for the positions and did not reflect the sentiments of most of the school’s students.

He said students will take a survey next month that asks whether they support the new chemical health policy.