Only about 30 students showed up for high school classes in Dayton on Friday. The rest of the 200 students at West Side High School in Franklin County stayed home in protest of the district’s discipline policies.

Student president Matt Phillips said students are concerned that the discipline policy doesn’t give specific punishment for specific infractions.

The school board planned a meeting Friday night to talk about it, but probably won’t come up with a new policy soon.

Principal Jon Abrams also has resigned over disciplinary matters.

His wife said Abrams plans to serve through the end of his contract, which runs out at the end of June.

The incident that sparked Abrams’ resignation and the students’ refusal to come to school involved seniors caught drinking alcohol on a field trip.

In the past, students who were caught drinking were expelled and lost credit in their classes.

The school board decided that this time, the students would be expelled but wouldn’t lose class credit.

Abrams, who has been principal for three years, didn’t agree with the board.

Darlene Abrams said her husband has been concerned about student discipline. “It’s been a tough year that way,” she said.

“He has philosophical differences with his board.”

West Side Superintendent Melvin Buetler said Abrams’ resignation didn’t come as a total surprise.

“It always concerns me when a principal resigns, but it was not completely unexpected,” Buetler said.

Phillips said the board’s ruling might be correct, but it looks like favoritism toward the students involved.

“With only 200 students, (discipline) tends to be on an individual basis,” Phillips said.

“It’s best to be consistent and have a specific policy.”