Opinion ID: 1809124
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: constitutionality of the school board's alcohol policy as applied to t.h.

Text: The lower court ruled from the bench that the school's policy regarding alcohol was unconstitutionally overbroad. The court ruled thus because the policy has no geographic limitation on where or when a child might drink alcohol and not suffer suspension. Dr. Harrison, the principal of Pascagoula High School, testified that he was not familiar with any provision on the handbook that limited the scope of the policy. He did testify that the policy applied at school or any school activity, on the way to and from the school or school bus. The Board of Trustees asserts that the judge's ruling was erroneous. They describe this in two ways. First, since T.H.'s activity was within allowable boundaries of the Board of Trustees's authority to proscribe, the policy is not overbroad as it applies to him. He may not complain of the vagueness of the policy as it applied to the activities of third parties. Village of Hoffman Estates v. Flipside, Hoffman Estates, Inc. 455 U.S. 489, 494, 102 S.Ct. 1186, 1191, 71 L.Ed.2d 362, rehearing denied, 456 U.S. 950, 102 S.Ct. 2023, 72 L.Ed.2d 476 (1982). Put another way, the Board of Trustees asserts that the policy may not be declared facially overbroad where: (1) there are a substantial number of situations where the policy may be validly applied; (2) the policy covers a range of easily identifiable conduct which may be constitutionally proscribed; and (3) the legislation is susceptible to a narrowing interpretation. Erznoznik v. Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205, 215, 95 S.Ct. 2268, 2275-76, 45 L.Ed.2d 125 (1975). We agree with the Board of Trustees. Here, T.H. admitted consuming alcohol before entering school property to attend a school athletic function. The policy validly applies to T.H.'s conduct. The Board of Trustees may constitutionally proscribe consumption of alcohol within limits. The policy is susceptible to a narrowing interpretation, as stated by Dr. Harrison and codified at § 37-3-301(e) of the Mississippi Code. We reverse this portion of the youth court's ruling.