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• New alcohol, drug, tobacco rules oversee student activities 

JUNEAU — Students will have to abide by new rules regarding drug, alcohol and tobacco use if they want to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities next fall.

Schools had been developing their own guidelines until now, but the Alaska School Activities Association board of directors this week adopted a statewide policy that includes penalties that are cumulative and grow progressively harsher with each violation.

More than 70 percent of the 40,000 students in Alaska participate in some kind of extracurricular activity, said Gary Matthews, ASAA executive director.

“We have something that kids want to do and that’s to be able to play. In order to be able to play we hold them to higher standards now,” . . .

The penalties range from a 10-day suspension from activities for a first offense . . . If a student is caught using tobacco during the suspension, the clock starts over. The student must complete the 10 days no matter how many times the suspension is restarted.

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