Blackfoot High School football players caught with marijuana on campus
The Blackfoot Police Department is investigating the use of marijuana by two Blackfoot High School football players.
Chief Kurt Asmus said the investigation started Thursday after police received an email claiming that two players had marijuana on them. Asmus confirmed the two students were found to have marijuana on the school property but he said no one is being charged. However, in a press release Monday, Blackfoot Police did say if either of the students violates the law again the students may be charged for this crime at that time.
The Blackfoot High School Student Handbook rules indicate the players should have been benched from the football game Friday night, but the chief told KIFI/KIDK it appears that they were allowed to participate in the game.
A district spokesperson told KIFI/KIDK that district policy was followed, referring questions to School Board policy 551.
“Board Policy 551 addresses Student Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Use. This policy has been adhered to,” superintendent Brian Kress said.
The policy says: “Students who violate this policy will be suspended by the principal. Suspension for the first offense of this policy will be for three to five (3-5) days, unless extraordinary circumstances exist. The time period for suspension for the second or third offense will be determined at the discretion of the principal and/or the superintendent.”
The incident was reported on Wednesday. Based on district policy, a three to five-day suspension would have kept the players out of school until Monday, at the earliest. Asked whether suspensions included extracurricular activities, district superintendent Brian Kress said he could not comment and again referred KIFI/KIDK to the board policy.
Local News 8 and KIDK 3 Eyewitness News are working to get more information on this story, including why the players were allowed to participate in the game.
