DE PERE PRINCIPAL STEPS UP DRUG FIGHT

Up To $500 Offered To Students Who Name Potential Dealers

DE PERE - De Pere High School principal Matt Weller on Thursday
offered a reward of up to $500 to students for disclosing the name of
someone who is found to be selling drugs on school grounds.

Weller gathered kids in an all-school assembly to tell them about the
financial motivation for turning in potential drug dealers. But he was
quick to say the move isn't in reaction to any specific incident or
sudden increase in drug trafficking at the school.

"Drug problems are commonplace in every school," said Weller, who was
reluctant to discuss the reward. "This is just my intent to step things up."

Weller declined to say where the funds will come from.

Joan Murphy, whose daughter is a junior at the school, has mixed
feelings about the plan.

"On the one hand, it could be a good idea and could help someone," she
said. "But it could cause a lot of problems for that person. It turns
them into a tattletale or snitch."

Although students' names would be kept confidential, she fears that
word would get around anyway.

The concept has worked for a smaller-scale program. Crimestoppers runs
a program at all middle and high schools in Brown County. Quick 50
offers kids $50 for telling a school liaison officer the name of
someone involved in drug, alcohol or weapons crimes. Kids remain
anonymous and get the $50 after an arrest is made.

Officer Dennis Gladwell of the De Pere Police Department said the
program already has led to arrests at De Pere High School. But he also
stressed drugs are a problem for all schools.

He sees nothing but good with the De Pere program.

"I appreciate schools for standing up and doing what's right," he
said.