Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • November 23, 2011 FLOW Area Student suspended for possession, distribution by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School Board of Education has suspended a student from Ramapo High School for possessing and distributing dangerous drugs at the school. The suspension is effective immediately Villadom Sports The Ramapo High School’s Green Raiders boys’ soccer team has won its first state title since 2007, defeating Timber Creek 3-1 at last week’s Group 3 state championship match. The game was played at the College of New Jersey. Chris Nash, James Buonavita, and Sean Etheridge each scored in the Green Raiders’ successful effort. Giuseppe DeLuca scored Timber Creek’s lone goal. Ramapo boys win title Assists were recorded by Brandon Alverado and James Ortiz of Ramapo, and Michael DeFeo of Timber Creek. Ramapo’s Will Shiel was credited with seven saves. Andrew Garcia of Timber Creek logged five saves. Rampo ended its championship season with a record of 22-1. Timber Creek’s final record was 19-4-1. The Ramapo team is coached by Evan Baumgarten. Warm welcome Franklin Lakes welcomes Brain Storm Learning Center at 808 High Mountain Road, For more information, call (201) 84-STORM. Pictured: Katie Weigl; Jeff Allen, president of the Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Frank Bivona; Scott Doty; and David Wyllie at the ribbon cutting. and will last until the completion of the second marking period in mid-January. According to a resolution passed at a recent public meeting, the Franklin Lakes Police Department charged the student with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and illegal drug paraphernalia, engaging in a scheme to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and distributing the substance to Ramapo students. Police also charged that the student was under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance to the detriment of the safety, security, and well-being of other students, in violation of the district’s policies and regulations regarding student conduct and the causes for suspension or expulsion of students. In early November, a disciplinary hearing was held during which the school board presented its evidence and the student’s parents were given the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses on behalf of the student and cross examine any and all witnesses presented by the board. Following that hearing, the board determined that, based upon a preponderance of the competent and credible evidence, the student’s conduct was grounds for discipline and, in light of the serious nature of the conduct, the student must be removed from the school. The school board advised that, during the period of suspension, individual counseling services and academic support will be made available to the student as appropriate, with the specific services offered being subject to the discretion of the superintendent. However, the student will not be allowed to be present on any of the school district’s campuses unless authorized by the superintendent for the purpose of taking tests or conferring with guidance personnel or completing college applications. Following the passage of the suspen- sion resolution, the student was required to meet with the student assistance coordinator at Ramapo to determine an appropriate substance abuse rehabilitation program in which the student must enroll and which will include random chemical screenings in accordance with school board policy. The student must then provide the superintendent proof of attendance in that program. The student’s academic progress must also be discussed with the superintendent once a week for 30 minutes. The progress being made in the substance abuse rehabilitation program will also be discussed. The student may not participate in any athletic co-curricular or extracurricular activities sponsored by the board either on campus or in any school district where Ramapo High School is participating in the activities. Home academic instruction will be provided to the student during the suspension, but to be eligible to re-enter the high school, the student must demonstrate that required academic course have been successfully completed and the student must not have committed any other violations of the law or been charged with any violations of the law and is drug- and alcohol-free, based on a medical evaluation. The district’s superintendent must report to the school board at each board meeting regarding the status of the student’s suspension and the appropriateness of the student’s educational program. The board will eventually determine if the suspension should be continued, or if the student should be allowed to re-enter the school prior to the end of the second marking period of 201112. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the resolution could deprive the student of the right to a free public education and could lead to expulsion from the school district.