LET'S KEEP KIDS SAFE FROM FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY

I just finished reading the drug-dog article in Thursday's North County
Tribune. It disclosed that the Lucia Mar school district paid for
drug-sniffing dogs to visit its campuses 31 times last year at a cost of
$12,000.

This resulted in one expulsion when a small canister of pot was identified.

So the school board got one marijuana bust while the students lost $12,000
that could have gone to books, computers, software or other classroom
necessities. This is hardly a good value for the taxpayer.

Now the Templeton School Board is embarking on a similar course, looking to
hire drug-sniffing dogs from a private firm at a cost of $400 per day ("to
keep our kids safe") even when they admit there has been no evidence of a
drug problem. They are deliberately excluding local law enforcement to avoid
the appearance of "a police state."

Unless there are unlimited funds available,, I suggest the school board
prioritize allocation of resources to education and continue to work with
law-enforcement agencies who are far more qualified to identify and deal
with any drug problems. They have done a fine job with the DARE program and
they are already funded for this purpose.

In other words, educational funds for education, law enforcement funds for
law-enforcement. If there is concern about drug abuse or violence at the
high school, the board should ask the Sheriff's Department to investigate
and make recommendations. Otherwise, let's concentrate on education. We also
need to keep our kids safe from fiscal irresponsibility.

E. Jardini, Templeton