Milford Middle School Students Disciplined For Drinking Incident
Posted
Craig Brosman-
As many as a dozen Milford Middle School students spent Tuesday at home after being suspended for alcohol use at school. Wawasee School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington confirmed that earlier this week a student brought alcohol to school on the bus and other students sampled the drink on the bus and in school. The incident was reported and then investigated by the school and the resource officer, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputy Dalis Owens. “From student statements someone came forward and said something,” Edington said. Edington said there were varying degrees of participation among those students who sampled the drink. All the students were out for Tuesday, Edington said, while school officials “needed to work through things on Tuesday.” Owens said that they have finished an investigation and that the findings will be sent to the Kosciusko County Probation Office. Edington said any further action or discipline would be done through the Alternative to Suspension and Expulsion program. Students would come to school and work on their school work, but would be segregated from the rest of the students. “The discipline could range from one day to several days,” Edington said. Edington then referred to the quality of students at Wawasee and how school officials found the incident alarming. “It was shocking behavior, not typical for our students. Our students have a history of coming to school to learn,” Edington said. “They understand the school has a job to do. This just crossed the line.” The school sent information about the incident home with all students and encouraged parents to speak with their kids. Edington characterized the incident as a chance for the school and parents to sit down and talk to their kids about alcohol and drugs. “Most students get it, understand it and are not swayed into other behavior,” Edington said. “The school sent home communication for parents to remind their children to use the best judgment they can.” From this point on, Edington said, the progress is not about punishment but education. “The main point is not punishment but to look to the future for education,” Edington said. “There is an opportunity to be a part of the school process.”
