FLOW Area June 16, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 Ramapo students suspended for drug offenses by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education approved three resolutions that confirmed the removal of three students from Ramapo High School for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year and from Sept. 1, 2010 through the end of the first marking period of the 2010-11 school year, effective immediately. The names of the students are not being released by the school board, but the suspensions resulted from the students’ involvement in the sale and distribution of Xanax, a controlled dangerous substance, to other Ramapo students. During the suspensions, which began March 10, the day of the incident, individual counseling services and academic support are being made available to the students as appropriate, and the specific services to be offered will be at the discretion of the district’s superintendent. The students are prohibited from being present on the district’s school campuses outside of or during the regularly scheduled school day during the period of suspension, unless authorized by the superintendent. However, during the period of suspension, the students will be allowed to be present on the school campuses with the express authorization of the superintendent to complete standardized testing, or to confer with guidance personnel for the sole purpose of completing college applications. Although the students did not apparently participate in school district sports they will also be prohibited from participating in any athletic, co-curricular, and/or extracurricular activities sponsored by the board and will be prohibited from being present at or attending any boardsponsored activities on campus or in any school district where the school is participating in the activities during the period of their suspensions. During their suspension from Ramapo High School, the students will be provided with an alternative educational program, according to state and federal laws, that meets the state’s core curriculum standards. On May 18, the students’ parents were provided with notice of a disciplinary hearing, which was held before the school board on May 24. After the board considered all of the evidence presented at the hearing and the students’ academic, attendance, and disciplinary records, and the applicable board policies and regulations, the board determined, based upon “a preponderance of the competent and credible evidence” that on March 10, 2010, the students did violate the board’s policies, regulations, and statutes, and that their conduct was grounds for discipline. Because of the serious nature of the conduct, the board decided to suspend the students from the high school through the end of the first marking period of the 2010-11 school year. Earlier this school year, long-term suspensions were imposed on two other students for drug related activities. Superintendent Lauren Schoen and the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional Board of Education issued the following statement about all of these suspensions: “Though the above occurrences are unfortunate, the board wishes to impress upon its students, with the assistance of their parents and guardians, that the board takes these incidents VERY SERIOUSLY and that the sale and distribution of drugs on or off school grounds WILL NOT BE TOLERATED by the board and will be met with serious consequences.” (Emphasis supplied.) Kaleb Zuidema (continued from page 8) Last year, Zuidema placed first in the Jack Yockers (Bergen County) Relays, Group D; Red Littler (Bergen County) Meet Group D; NJSIAA Group 1, North 1; NJSIAA Group 1 (statewide); second place for the Bergen County Meet of Champions; and third place at the NJSIAA Championship Meet (statewide, all groups). 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