Published on Wed, Nov 4, 2009
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An Arlington High School student who was suspended after sharing a peppermint mocha was back in school by the end of the week.
James Glass, father of 14-year-old Brittany, said his daughter and a friend shared the flavored coffee drink on the bus while riding to school. Another student commented that the mocha smelled "like peppermint Schnapps," and the charge eventually made its way to school administrators.
"My daughter doesn't even know what peppermint Schnapps is," Glass commented in an October 23 story published by a local media outlet. "No one tested it. There was no breathalyzer, but they suspended my daughter. That is ridiculous."
The school district issued a written response to the incident on October 27. Although no comment was made about individual student disciplinary actions, district spokesperson Misti Gilman wrote, "We take campus safety and security very seriously. The health of our students is paramount."
Gilman added that the district investigates any reports of threats to student safety, including "reasonable suspicion" of alcohol possession or use.
"If reasonable suspicion exists, an investigation is conducted and if student safety is in danger, school administration will take disciplinary action," she said.
Brittany and four other students were originally suspended until January, but Brittany was allowed to return to school just a few days after the incident.