DRUG PROBLEM: RIDGEFIELD OFFICIALS VOW TO BOOST BATTLE AGAINST DRUG USE

Accusations that drug dealing is "rampant" at Ridgefield High School
are nothing new to school and town officials, who say they know the
problem exists and is getting worse. However, Superintendent of
Schools Kenneth Freeston said claims by parents that the district is
trying to cover up the problems are simply not true.

"We've acknowledged there is a problem with alcohol and substance
abuse for the past three years, publicly acknowledged this," Dr.
Freeston said. "We've been working very closely with various town
agencies to address the problem. But, I have to say Ridgefield is no
different than other nearby towns or the rest of Fairfield County in
this respect."

The parents of Joseph Lucisano, who died Nov. 14, claim the school
district is not doing enough to curb drug dealing or use in the
schools. Frank and Claudia Lucisano say their son, who committed
suicide, would be alive if the district cracked down on the narcotics trade.

Privacy Act

Dr. Freeston would not comment on the specifics of Joseph Lucisano.
However, he said one of the biggest misconceptions other parents may
have is because they do not hear about disciplinary actions, they
assume the schools are doing nothing.

"This is just not the case," Dr. Freeston said. "There is a firewall
of federal privacy protection around students. We aren't allowed to
release any information on student discipline, other than the number
of total suspensions each year."

Federal law prevents the schools from releasiing personal information
about students. Because of this, Dr. Freeston said, only the students
and their families know about specific school punishment.

The superintendent also said it was up to the parents to mete out
further punishment for alcohol or substance abuse. "All we can do is
suspend the students involved," he said. "If the parents don't do
anything in the home, we can't help that."

No Firm Answers

First Selectman Rudy Marconi, who formed the Ridgefield Coalition
Against Substance Abuse, said preventing drug use among teens would
always be problematic.

"None of us have an answer," he said. "I would hope it wouldn't come
down to measures like searching every student, but we know we have a
problem. Are we working aggressively on a solution? Yes, we are."

One of the biggest problems the schools face in disciplining drug
users or drug dealers is the reaction of the parents. Dr. Freeston
said many times parents of a suspended student will challenge that
punishment with a lawyer.

"We have a zero tolerance policy that we diligently enforce," Dr.
Freeston said. "But I would say in at least half of the cases, the
parents do not take a position in support of the schools. There is a
considerable conflict with some parents who will hire an attorney to
dispute disciplinary issues."

Dr. Freeston said the use of lawyers in these cases can cause
"confusion and put pressure on the students" who see their parents
fighting the suspension. It sends a message, Dr. Freeston said, that
the parents may tacitly condone the illegal behavior.

Mr. Marconi said the "not my child" knee-jerk reaction to discipline
is something parents must avoid.

"Parents need to know just because their kids are honor students and
playing two sports that everything isn't wonderful," Mr. Marconi
said. "Parents have to be a part of their lives to the nth degree."

Drug Dog

One of the loudest criticisms of drug enforcement in the high school
is the apparent refusal to use Zeus, the town's drug-sniffing dog.
Dr. Freeston said he could not comment on whether the Board of
Education set a policy of not using the dog in the high school.

"I can comment publicly on security measures in the schools," he
said. "I can say there has been a dialogue" on Zeus's presence.

Mr. Marconi said if the Board of Education decided to vote on using
the dog, "it would be in the school tomorrow." However, the first
selectman also cautioned that other towns have run into major legal
battles over the same thing.

The same is true of personal property in the schools. State statutes
allow schools to search lockers and book bags. School officials,
however, cannot conduct "pat-downs" of students nor can they search a
student's car, even if it is parked on school grounds.

"If we want to search someone, we ask the student to empty his
pockets," Dr. Freeston said. "We can go into lockers and book bags or
backpacks, but that is the limit. If we want to search a car, we have
to call the police."

Community Effort

The Ridgefield Police Department declined to comment on its policies
on drug enforcement in the schools or on criticism parents and
students leveled at the department. Police spokesman Capt. Stephen
Brown said, "The most important thing we can do is express our deep
sadness at the tragic loss of one of Ridgefield's youth."

Capt. Brown did respond to Lucisano family claims that the police set
up a speed trap near their home to catch teenagers going to their
Ridgecrest Drive house to pay their respects to Joseph.

"The speed trap on North Street was in response to complaints we
received from a resident of North Street," Capt. Brown said. "That
radar team is part of a unit that goes out one week a month to
enforce traffic issues. It was also on Route 7. They went to North
Street based on previous complaints."

While some parents openly scorn the town's efforts, Mr. Marconi and
Dr. Freeston said police involvement in the anti-drug effort was
critical, along with the help of the entire community.

"This isn't just the schools or the police," Mr. Marconi said. "We
need to get the entire community involved, from schools to police to
clergy to civic groups to the parents. We need to work together -
aggressively work together - to come up with a solution if we are to
have any success in battling substance and alcohol abuse."