West Pittston Search Unlawful, Alcohol Defendant Says

2 Vietnam Veterans Aim To Get Rid Of Worn, Torn American Flags Found Flying
Around The Area 
Keeping Old Glory Glorious

By NATHAN DICKINSON ndickinson@leader.net
 Tuesday, February 13, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





Seventeen students at West Hazleton Middle School faced disciplinary action
after a boy brought in more than 100 prescription pills last Wednesday that
were distributed to some classmates, said the security director for the school
district. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Principals first heard of the 14-year-old male student distributing the
pills at 2 p.m., said Vincent J. Zola, security coordinator for the Hazleton
Area School District. Because they are minors, the identity of the students
has not been released. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The pills were the medication Adderall, which had been prescribed to the
14-year-old, Zola said. Adderall is an amphetamine often prescribed for people
with behavioral problems such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It
has an effect similar to speed, Zola said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Security officers found the students in possession of 46 20-milligram and
77 5-milligram tablets, Zola said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some of the 17 students consumed the drug before security officers became
aware of the incident, while others threw them away, Zola said. The specific
number of each was not available, he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Parents of the pupils were called and asked to come to the school, where
each was able to call their family doctor, Zola said. School officials have
mandated that the students involved receive counseling at Serento Gardens, an
alcohol and drug addiction center in Hazleton. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The West Hazleton Police Department has been notified and charges are
pending, Zola said. The student who brought the medication to school and the
two who gave the drug to their classmates may be expelled, while the rest were
given five-day suspensions, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Superintendent Geraldine Shepperson said the student who carried the drug
to class hid it in his shoe to avoid detection. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We do not have a policy of searching students when they arrive at school,"
Shepperson said. "The primary concern was that they took something without
knowing what they were taking." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Administrators have said they are dealing with more students who must bring
prescription medications to school. For example, earlier this month, officials
at West Hazleton Elementary School said 70 students were bringing some type of
prescribed medication. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 State law mandates that students on school property have any and all
medication - including over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol - administered
by a school nurse, Shepperson said. "Even a puffer for asthma," she added. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Unfortunately this was a large number of students," Shepperson said. "It
was caught quickly and dealt with immediately." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

17 Middle Schoolers Involved With Pills, Official Says 
W. Hazleton Student Accused Of Bringing Amphetamine To School And Two Others
Who Distributed It To Classmates May Be Expelled.

17 Middle Schoolers Involved With Pills, Official Says W. Hazleton Student Accused Of Bringing Amphetamine To School And Two Others Who Distributed It To Classmates May Be Expelled.