STUDENT SURVEY ONE-THIRD OF SHERIDAN STUDENTS BELIEVE IN ABSTAINING FROM SEX, DRUGS

SHERIDAN, Wyo. (AP) - About a third of middle and senior high school
students surveyed believe it is important not to be sexually active or
use alcohol or other drugs.

The survey of 1,486 students at Sheridan High School, Sheridan Junior
High School and Central Middle School was conducted in May 1999 by the
city's Healthy Community Healthy Youth board.

The survey also found that one quarter of parents are involved in
helping their children succeed in school, 40 percent of students care
about their school and 20 percent think the community values them as a
resource.

School board members who received results of the survey last week
expressed shock.

"These results are an indictment of this community and I think we need
to get this information out in the community as quickly as possible,"
trustee Jim Perkins said.

"I wasn't that surprised, but (the board members) don't walk through
the school halls every day," student Molly Wheeler said.