By Barbara Morrison
News Editor
It is not a surprise to most Westford Academy students that drug and alcohol use is present, if not commonplace among students.
According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which is administered to students in grades 6 through 12, over half of the student population has at least tried drinking alcohol. Of those students, about two thirds admitted to having drank regularly and consumed alcohol in the last thirty days before the survey.
While the numbers aren’t quite as high, a sizable portion – thirty percent of the WA student population – admitted to using marijuana regularly.
To combat the drug and alcohol use, Westford Academy has always had a “zero tolerance” policy for drugs and alcohol. Yet, a policy that seems clear and definitive is not necessarily so.
During Ellen Parker’s time as Principal, which the seniors and juniors may remember, the “zero tolerance” was much more lenient. Though there hasn’t been any written change to the rule, Principal Jim Antonelli has worked to take a tougher stance on the issue.
“My zero tolerance policy is if a student brings drugs on school property, I will move to expel that student,” Antonelli has asserted.
He went on to explain that he uses the term “expelled” loosely. What he means is that he will exclude that student from attending Westford Academy, but that does not mean that they are excluded from every school in the commonwealth.
Last year only one drug related case came up, however this year one student has been permanently expelled, which excludes them from all high schools in Massachusetts. Three have been excluded from attending WA, and one case is still being tried.
Antonelli made clear that his policy is tough, but fair. Each student’s case is heard, with all the facts, and given due process. He also said that there is no double standard when it comes to the drug policy; any student, no matter how prominent or connected, will be punished if caught.
There are some discrepancies though, in how Antonelli handles illegal alcohol consumption by students in comparison to his stance on illegal drugs, specifically marijuana.
For being caught with alcohol, students receive a five day suspension. Antonelli believes that this is the best option, explaining that marijuana is actually illegal, while alcohol is only illegal if you are below a certain age.
He also expressed that he thought the decimalization of marijuana possession (of under an ounce) sent the wrong message about drug use. While he feared that it would increase drug issues at WA, Antonelli is happy to report that it did not change what went on in the school.
John Lyons, Westford Academy’s head of the Health Department, feels differently about the gap in punishment between illegal drug use and alcohol use.
“A drug is a drug, and alcohol is a drug,” Lyons said.
Lyons believes that the policies should be uniform.
For now, Antonelli is busy with prom and graduation season, which he said last year was “an absolute disaster, three weeks of hell.”
The breathalyzer at this year’s prom seemed to deter students. There were no incidents, and Antonelli has officially deemed Prom 2009 a success.
