Stung by criticism over Carroll's policy restricting students from attending parties where alcohol or drugs are consumed, schools Superintendent William H. Hyde said yesterday that he has ordered his staff to review the policy this spring.
Hyde said he wants to ensure the guidelines are clear in restricting students from attending off-campus parties where underage drinking or illegal drug use occurs. Any recommended change in the policy would have to be approved by the five-member school board.
Hyde announced the decision the day after a county Circuit Court judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by 12 Westminster High School students recently disciplined under the policy that prohibits them from participating in extracurricular activities for 45 days.
"Staff will be reviewing the policies and procedures to make certain that appropriate safeguards are there for students," Hyde said. "And that the procedures facilitate the role of our administration and staff in carrying out the spirit and intention of our regulations."
Board of Education spokeswoman Carey Gaddis said Hyde called for the review after Judge Francis M. Arnold said in a 10-page ruling on the matter: "It is hoped that the Board of Education has learned that clarification of their policies, particularly the ones involved here, is needed."
Parents of some students -- declared ineligible from extracurricular activities after a Feb. 6 party at the home of a fellow student -- were delighted at Hyde's order.
"That was my intent, my agenda -- I wanted it looked at and it needs to be changed, too," said Patricia Farver, mother of two boys disciplined under the policy. "As far as I know, we are the only school system in the country with this kind of a policy not even the Amish have such a strict policy.
"It wasn't clear to me or my children that they couldn't attend a party -- under that policy, if they even go to a party not knowing people are drinking there, they are" in violation of the policy, she said.
Farver said her sons plan to appeal their suspensions from extracurricular activities to the Board of Education, as Arnold directed in his ruling. A second appeal may be taken to the State Board of Education.
Thomas M. Wood IV, an attorney for some of the Westminster students, criticized the policy yesterday because it "extends into the private lives of the students."
"I would hope that not only would they keep an open mind about the rules, but an open mind about the administrative appeals that soon will be coming before them," Wood said.
Though the students said they weren't drinking at the party, they were barred from extracurricular activities for a month and a half because of the school board's long-standing policy that applies to students who knowingly place themselves in "close proximity" to underage drinking or drug use, on or off school grounds.
Carroll school officials punished only the students who acknowledged being at the party -- though some said they left as soon as possible after noticing drinking. In most cases, they were at the party 30 to 60 minutes.
But school officials determined from testimony from many students that the 12 students disciplined did not leave soon enough.
School officials said the policy applies to extracurricular activities because they are a privilege.
Pub Date: 3/24/99