G.F.K. COMMUNITY COUNCIL SETS NEW DRUG POLICY

The Gordon F. Kells School Community Council (or S.C.C.) met for the
third time on Monday, Feb. 12, 2007 in the school's library.

The formation of the councils was legislated by the provincial
government following the amalgamation of the school divisions and it
is intended to act as a link between the communities and the school
divisions which are considerably larger now.

Council began the meeting with the arduous task of setting a mission
statement. Although this may seem like an easy responsibility the
members of the council quickly learned the difficulties that can be
presented by simple semantics when attempting to create a philosophy
for an organization to operate under.

"When we have anyone come and join in on our meetings, if at the
beginning of our meetings we state our mission statement, everyone
will begin the meeting on the same page, everyone will know what we
are looking at, what our focus is and what we are trying to achieve,"
said S.C.C. chairperson Nicole Currie.

After more than one and a half hours of discussion, brain-storming and
the sharing of a pack of Starburst candy the S.C.C. arrived at this
mission statement: "Gordon F. Kells Community Council provides a
strong link between our student's school, families, communities and
partners. We will engage, encourgae and support students to make a
difference. We will evaluate and plan programs and policies. We will
encourage our communities to assist and support our students. We will
provide opportunities for students to reach their own personal
potential. We will communicate to all stake holders."

The successful completion of the mission statement was followed by a
deserving round of applause. The S.C.C. then moved on to the next matter.

Next to be discussed was the new apprenticeship program principal
Maurice Saltel hopes to have in place for the next school year in September.

"What we want to do is create a program where kids who are 16 years of
age and finished grade 10 can sign on as an apprentice," explained
Saltel. "For every 100 hours they work as an apprentice they get the
apprenticeship hours, they get the apprenticeship pay and they get
high school credit."

Saltel is developing this program in the hopes of encouraging more
kids to stay in school.

"We have kids that are quitting because they can work and this
provides them the opportunity to work and earn high school credits,"
said Saltel. "The only reason they will come to school is to earn
compulsory credit and I think that will help keep a lot of kids in
school. To be a tradesman is a very valuable thing."

Saltel has previous experience with this type of a program during his
time in Manitoba.

"This program exists in Alberta and it exists in Manitoba," he said.
"I am going to wait exactly one month and then after that I will start
pushing." Saltel expects that there will be many obstacles in his path
when trying to accomplish this goal.

Enthused and motivated by this discussion the S.C.C. then moved on to
less optimistic business.

" I need some advice on our drug and alcohol policy," said Saltel
while providing the members of the S.C.C. with a copy of the South
East Cornerstone School Divisions policy regarding these offenses.

The policy states that "Any student who is in possession of,
distributes, sells or supplies drugs or alcohol listed as unlawful
under any statute or regulation on school premises, school buses, or
at any school approved activity may be suspended in accordance with
South East Cornerstone School Division."

Saltel felt that this policy was too open-ended and asked that the
S.C.C. support the policy he hopes to enforce at G.F.K.

"If a kid gets caught with alcohol in our school or gets caught with
illegal drugs in our school what I have been doing is issuing a three
day suspension and making drug counseling mandatary," said Saltel. "If
they don't take the drug counseling I suspend them for a further 10
days. I am trying to force them to do the drug counseling. I don't
want them out of school for too long because they will fall behind.
When you start getting past 10 days you start effecting their education."

RCMP Corporal Keith Dalton, who is also a member of the S.C.C. was at
the meeting to assure the rest of the council that the police are also
involved when these incidents occur at the school. However much to the
frustration of the council Dalton suggested that at this time Canadian
courts treat marijuana possession much lighter than under age drinking.

"If you get caught with alcohol you get a $190 fine, you get caught
with marijuana you get an absolute discharge and you might have to
write an essay. You will not get a criminal record," said Dalton. "The
courts treat it differently."

Crystal Fahrenbach suggested a system she had been exposed to at
another school and volunteered to learn more about that school's
anti-drug program in time for the next S.C.C. meeting.

Dalton also volunteered to bring more drug information to the next
meeting.

The meeting concluded on a somber note as Saltel warned that he
believed crystal meth use would appear in the area in the coming years
and that a dependable drug program would need to be in place prior to
that.