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FSJ principal banned from using breathalyzer on students

New breathalyzer policy for school district on the cards

Hannah Wright

Omineca Express

The principal of Fort St. James Secondary School has been banned from using a breathalyzer to test students for alcohol consumption.

Ken Young, who worked at NVSS for a number of years, is new to FSJSS this year.

The incident came about after two students were suspended two weeks ago after Young asked them to take a breathalyzer test after they arrived back late after lunch and traces of alcohol were found.

School District 91 say that breathalyzers were handed out to local schools to be used at extracurricular activities and were not meant to be used during the school day.

The BC Civil Liberties Association has said the administration of such a test may violate a students’ civil rights under Section 8 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The incident may lead to the introduction of a new policy for School District 91.

Young lives in Vanderhoof and has just been voted back onto the Vanderhoof council after sitting the last term out as a result of unsuccessfully running for the position of mayor.