COMMUNITIES UNITE - LAWRENCE COUNTY SCHOOLS SECURE FUNDING FOR
SUBSTANCE ABUSE EDUCATION

NORTHERN HILLS - After seeing the Safe and Drug Free Schools program
continue to lose funding over the years, the state has stepped up and
is granting both Lead-Deadwood and Spearfish school districts with
$100,000 to use toward community-based programs. Students throughout
both communities, along with their younger siblings, will benefit
because of this additional funding.

School Project Leader Jackie Rans, told school board members this
month that it's taken about four years of hard work on behalf of the
district and the state to make this happen, but prevention activities
will be a lot easier to finance because of this grant.

"This is an opportunity for our community to work with our schools and
students in creating healthy choices with our youth," Rans said.

Northern Hills community members including area mayors,
superintendents and realtors have all worked in conjunction toward a
common goal of securing more funding for drug and alcohol awareness.

The State Department of Drug and Alcohol has granted Lawrence County
this money to use specifically for prevention activities, creating new
programs and improving existing programs. Funding is issued by the
state to each district that applied according to population numbers.

Angie King, program director at Family Health Center, has been awarded
the contract and will have an office at both Spearfish High School and
Lead-Deadwood High School.

Rans told board members that their goal is to eventually see the
program become self-sustaining. "It's been a long process and right
now we are just ironing out the wrinkles," Rans said.

First and foremost the program which will be named P.E.A.C.E.
(Prevention, Education and Community Empowerment) will assess the
surrounding community's needs. Next, they plan on launching a media
campaign that proposes a certain social norm when it comes to alcohol
and drug prevention, education and an overall awareness. Programming
is set to begin today and will be expanded into the spring 2007
semesters. "It's our hope and intent to support our schools with
additional funding for programming and activities as well as cultivate
and foster positive choices and attitudes for our students and
community members," King said. "We are excited about securing the
funding this year so that we can launch this program. With the
Governor's support of programs for South Dakota schools to address
substance abuse issues the school districts will continue to pursue
funding for the upcoming years as well," Rans continued.