CENTERVILLE — The school board on Monday night, Feb. 25, endorsed a statement from its president calling on parents and the community to take underage alcohol drinking seriously and "not to stop until the problem is under control."

Centerville, "like many other communities, has serious issues with underage alcohol consumption. This is not unique to us, it is a national problem," David Roer said in the statement read by board member Karen Myers.

"This is not a single 'black eye' on our community or our school district, but is an 'eye opener' for people who want to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to our children and our students.

"What we all need to be saying is that we will, and are, taking this problem seriously and we will not stop until the problem is under control," he said.

Roer was at home recovering from surgery. Myers noted that the five-member board endorsed the statement, which refers to a Feb. 14 teen party at the home of board member Cheryl Smith, who resigned the next day.

Police have said they expected to charge at least six minors and six adults with underage drinking and/or minor drug offenses.

Roer said the incident "could easily have been in any one of our neighborhoods and involved any one of our children." He asked parents to "speak to your children, know where they are and be involved."

District Superintendent Gary Smiga said some students have voluntarily come forward to tell Centerville High athletic director Ron Ullery they were at the party. Some were, and some were not, drinking, Smiga said.

Athletes will be disciplined under the school's athletic code. Nonathletes "have parents to determine what the consequences should be," he said.

No parents attended Monday's meeting to speak on the issue.

The board also introduced juniors Josh Meyer and Mariann Hucke as the district's representatives on the South Suburban Teen Alcohol and Drug Coalition.

Meyer said they hope to convince students that underage drinking is not good.