DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR DRUG DEALERS

School District Takes Strong Position Against Drug Dealers Arrested In New
"Bubble Zone"

If you deal drugs inside the bubble, your jail time is going to be double.
That's the message School District 67 is getting out to both drug dealers
and drug users as they implement the new 'Bubble Zone' policy approved
last spring.

"Basically, if you're caught within the Bubble Zone - which is a two-block
radius around a school - anyone caught dealing or using drugs within that
radius would possibly face double the consequences for these types of
actions," said school board chair Connie Denesiuk.

"This school district is taking a very strong stand on drug abuse of any type."

Strong enough that just two months into the school year at least four
students have reportedly been busted for dealing or using drugs and
expelled from school for a year.

The school district never releases specifics on discipline taken against
students, but police sources say four students had been caught for serious
drug offences, and all of them were given lengthy suspensions.

For cops often frustrated by a war against drugs that sometimes seems like
trying to fight a war against the rising tide, the school is seen as a
welcome ally.

"This is the kind of message we want to see going out to the other kids,"
said one veteran officer.

According to Denesiuk, this board takes drug offences so seriously that
they would consider permanently expelling students if they don't show they
are changing their ways.

"The policy in this district is pretty tight," she said. "Any suspensions
over five days goes to our disciplinary committee so there's no blanket
consequence for a particular type of offence. We try to fit the consequence
to the student.

"Of course, our first hope is that the student will turn around and leave
that type of behaviour behind and will be rehabilitated.

"However, this board has taken a very firm stand on this issue. "We feel
it's really important to get a strong message out there to the other
students in the district, and to non-students as well."

In fact, the Bubble Zones don't just affect students; they affect anyone
who is caught dealing or using prohibited narcotics near a school. For
example, an adult non-student dealing drugs to another adult non-student
could still have their jail term doubled if they are caught dealing in a
Bubble Zone. To do that, the school district is working with the RCMP and
the judicial system to ensure the Crown seeks harsher penalties for drug
trafficking in school areas.

"We need their support for this to work, so we can let people know we don't
tolerate this behaviour anywhere in the district," Denesiuk said.

The Bubble Zone campaign will really kick in during the coming weeks when
SD-67 staff start erecting signs identifying the target areas, and the
increase in penalties for offenders.