Nov. 12--Marijuana possession and alcohol consumption were the most common illegal-substance violations in Monongalia County Schools in the 2008-'09 school year and this year.

The findings are the result of a Freedom of Information Act request for information on what kinds and how much of each drug were found and in what schools, following a Nov. 2 The Dominion Post report on school drug incidents.

Last year, University High School had 24 violations for drug or alcohol use by students recorded in the West Virginia Eduction Information System, a statewide data collection and reporting center used by the state Department of Education and the 55 county school systems.

Morgantown High School had 13 recorded events and Clay-Battelle High School had two incidents.

This year, there have been six cases involving UHS students, one Clay-Battelle student and an MHS student.

Examples of the incident descriptions include "consumed alcohol on the school bus," "11 baggies of marijuana," "obviously under the influence of drugs -- smoking marijuana" and "possession of illegal prescription drugs ... oxycodone and synthroid."

There is no specific illegal drug listed other than marijuana.

UHS Principal Jim Forst and Superintendent Frank Devono did not return phone calls in time for this report.

BOE President Nancy Walker said she didn't know if there was a reason for the disparity between the two Morgantown schools. She doesn't think drugs are an ongoing problem in any of the schools.

Staff, faculty and administrators work hard to notice any potential problem or substance abuse, Walker said.

MHS's one incident this year occurred at the Alternative Learning Center.

"We're elated we haven't had those problems," MHS Principal Robert DeSantis said.

DeSantis said they keep a close watch on any potential problems at the school. Administrators also pay attention to students who might have had a problem in the past or are frequently off campus.

When students are caught with an illegal substance, DeSantis said, he follows the district handbook, which outlines a wide range of punishments, depending on the infraction. For each incident, the parents are contacted.

Walker said the punishment can involve suspension or alternative learning options.

But with each offense, counseling is provided for the student.

With technology, students know almost instantly if one of their classmates was caught with an illegal substance, DeSantis said. This helps students get the message that the school has no tolerance for illegal substances.

Last year, MHS had a few instances of students caught with marijuana.

Though DeSantis said he was glad there weren't harder drugs in the school, he has a zero-tolerance policy.

"The bottom line to me is no drug is acceptable," DeSantis said.

Walker agreed, saying she doesn't want to see any drug incident reports from the schools.

"I think there is zero tolerance for drug use in and out of the school community," Walker said. "One is too many."

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