REON SUDDABY
A Lindisfarne College student has been expelled from the school and may face criminal charges after he allegedly tried to sell cannabis to other students.
Although the school is remaining tight-lipped about the incident, Lindisfarne College Board of Trustees chairman John Wakeman confirmed the 16-year-old had been expelled from
the school, following an incident a fortnight ago.
Mr Wakeman refused to comment on the specifics of the matter, as he understood the boy could end up appearing in court.
Hastings police Senior Constable Ross Stewart confirmed the student had been referred to youth aid for possessing cannabis for supply.
The student was found with three and a half cannabis "bullets" at the school.
Rumours circulating around the school suggested the cannabis had been laced with methamphetamine, or "P", but Mr Stewart yesterday confirmed that was not the case. A decision would probably be made in the next week whether the youth would be prosecuted.
Mr Wakeman said the matter had been brought to the attention of authorities by "one of the more responsible individuals" at the school, who had heard drug rumours "through the grapevine."
The student had been stood down from the school while investigations were made into the incident, and had then been expelled following a meeting of the Lindisfarne College disciplinary committee.
An arrangement had been made for the student to attend another school, and Mr Wakeman said the boy would still be able to sit his end-of-year NCEA exams.
Mr Wakeman said he understood the incident was the first of its kind at the school in the past 12 years.
Mr Wakeman said the other students at Lindisfarne College were aware of the boy's expulsion, and of the school's attitude toward drugs.
"On a regular basis they're told illegal substances are definitely frowned upon in the school.
"I believe it would be full knowledge at this stage that the boy's left."
Mr Wakeman believed any issues with drugs at Lindisfarne College were less than at some other schools.
However he acknowledged the school's concern over the incident.
"Any of these incidents are a concern to the school."
Mr Wakeman said the school did not do regular drug-testing of pupils, but it had the ability to do so if a student was suspected of being involved with drugs.
Lindisfarne College is a boys-only Christian school with students from year seven to 13.
An Education Review Office report this year listed the school's roll at 461.
