GOOD LEADERSHIP

Editor:

Cheryl Ashlie and the Board of School Trustees demonstrated a
refreshing brand of leadership in unveiling a partnership with Ron
Lawrance, Alouette Addictions' executive director, to improve
learning conditions for students.

Instead of going on the traditional war path of words with respect to
the size of the crystal meth problem in Maple Ridge, or the typical
lack of funding defence, the school district has taken a little bit
of a worthwhile risk on behalf of the community in identifying
substance use related disciplinary action and supporting young people
in taking an important step in realizing how the dangerous
experimentation with substance use can lead them into a very devastating life.

Hopefully, some of our students will get the warning bell going off
for them early enough that they can reverse their choices and have a
chance at a healthy and successful life.

I refer to this venture as a risk for those people who will begin to
see the real problems surface, but this time they will see a solution
in action.

Educators will also hopefully feel confident to refer students who
they believe are involved with these dangerous activities without
having to wait for these young people to get caught because often by
the time a young person is caught it is often very difficult to help
them receive the proper support to return to a safe and healthy lifestyle.

Mandeep Bhuller

Pitt Meadows

Former School Board Trustee.