Two revelations within a week of underage drinking inside public schools has school administrators in Lawrence and Plaistow, N.H., restricting the types of beverage containers students can bring with them.
Just a week after an intoxicated 16-year-old student left Lawrence High School in an ambulance, Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy advised parents of a new policy that goes into effect Monday, which bans students in all grades from bringing any bottled drinks to school.
In a response to a drinking incident this week at Timberlane Middle School in Plaistow, N.H., Principal Michael Hogan sent a note home to parents yesterday telling them only clear bottles can be brought to school.
In both instances, officials are responding to alcohol consumption that occurred on school grounds that wasn't reported to local police.
Terika Smith, principal of the International High School — one of six academies on the Lawrence High School campus — faces disciplinary action for not reporting underage drinking to police last week.
Plaistow police were never notified of the drinking at Timberlane. That incident didn't involve medical treatment for any students.
In his letter to parents yesterday, Laboy downplayed the alcohol issue and didn't refer to the two drinking incidents at the International High School last week. He said the new procedure was prompted by "issues that have escalated over the past few weeks involving food and beverages being consumed in classrooms that create a health and safety issue for the school system."
"The goal of the new procedure is to reduce the amount of food products that are left in classrooms, which leads to pest control problems, and to reduce the possibility of students mixing their beverages with alcohol or other substances," Laboy wrote.
In one of the incidents last week, female students drank rum from an apple juice bottle in a classroom. In the other, a student brought a half gallon of rum to a party in the school cafeteria.
The new policy announced by Laboy will no longer allow students, staff and visitors to bring the following to school:
Bottled liquids of any kind, including bottled water.
Purchased drinks, such as coffee, tea and soft drinks.
Foods that are not in compliance with the School Department's wellness policy.
The only drinks that students will be allowed to bring into school as part of their lunch are sealed packages, such as juice boxes or milk containers, Laboy said.
Lawrence Teachers Union President Frank McLaughlin said he was disappointed that the new policy "goes beyond addressing abuse," yet does little to attack the overall problem of student drinking.
"I think the whole school community could have used a little alcohol education here," McLaughlin said.
Meanwhile, parents in Plaistow learned from Timberlane Principal Hogan that students were caught drinking Thursday.
In his letter, Hogan reported a middle-school student carried a "small amount of alcohol into school in a bottle mixed with Gatorade."
"Unfortunately, some of our students chose to take a drink from the bottle before it was disposed of," the letter continues. "Although no students consumed more than approximately one sip, consequences were issued to each student involved."
Hogan's letter calls on parents to talk about the dangers of alcohol use with their children. He also reminds parents and students that the only drink allowed to be brought to school is water in a clear plastic bottle.
He concludes by thanking parents for talking to their children "about this important matter" and invites them to call with any questions.
