As part of my ongoing documentation of the ludicrousness of zero tolerance policies specifically as implemented in many schools, I bring you today’s installment.

Apparently in the Columbia County Schools this passes as a measure of progress and “common-sense” implementation of their zero tolerance policies:

There was a time when a Tylenol would get you kicked out of school for ten days.  But after 52 students were caught county-wide last year with prescription or over the counter medicine, the school board realized many were accidents and the punishment was unjust.

“It just didn’t make sense. It was over the top and just wrong. It’s too harsh,” said Columbia County School Board Member Mike Sleeper.  For the past five years, students caught with prescription or over the counter drugs in Columbia County schools meant ten days out of school and a tribunal hearing.  “That’s just not right. We’re punishing kids in some cases academically for what may have been a slip of the mind,” said Sleeper.  Marguerite Creekmore’s child accidentally brought a Tylenol to school.  She forgot it was in her pocket.

“So she was scared and I became afraid what if she had been caught with it at school for just a Tylenol she would have been suspended,” said Creekmore.  The board’s vote this year suggests a more common sense approach to discipline.  “Now if you’re caught with over the counter medication you’ll receive in school suspension under the discretion of the building principal,” said Sleeper.  If a student is caught with medication in elementary or middle schools, they face two days suspension for a first offense.  High school students will be placed on in-school suspension for five days for their first offense.  This allows students to continue their education instead of missing days of class instruction.  “If we as administrators can prove there was no intent to do anything wrong then we have the flexibility to suspend them for two days instead of a full blown hearing,” said Evans Middle School Principal Michael Johnson.

We asked Sleeper if this new policy could be taking a step back from “Zero Tolerance.”  “No, we still have zero tolerance. We still don’t tolerate drugs. There is still a punishment but at the same time, it’s common sense,” said Sleeper.  If a student is caught with medications for a second time or more, school leaders say that’s when they’ll be suspended for ten days pending tribunal.