SAYING 'NO' TO DRUG SURVEYS

County Drug Survey Called 'Unscientific' by LISD Officials

The Denton County Substance Abuse Commission and Lewisville Independent
School District officials agree that the county has a drug problem.

What they don't agree on is the method of obtaining information from
students on just how bad the problem is.

"Our job is to work with the different entities to find out information",
County Commissioner Jeff Krueger said. "That is the goal of the (substance
abuse) commission and that's why it was formed."

At issue is the use of a drug survey issued by Texas A&M University for
students in grades seven through 12. The commission asked all school
districts in Denton County - Lewisville, Denton, and Carrollton-Farmers
Branch - to participate in the survey.

Denton and Carrollton-Farmers Branch obliged; Lewisville, however, refused.

LISD officials cite the survey as being unscientific and too easy to
manipulate. The commission, made up of elected county officials, clergy,
Parent Teacher Association presidents and others, believes the survey is as
scientific as any other of its kind.

"You may have one or two students (lie), but overall the students respond
honestly," Krueger said. "The survey takes out the high and the low and
gets the average anyway."

LISD board member Fred Placke, who was informed about the issue by a
parent, said he heard district officials think the survey has "too many
weaknesses."

"The district believed there was too much space for error and it would be
too easy to manipulate", Placke said. "we don't need a survey to tell us
we have a drug problem, and we're certainly going to be doing a lot of
things towards (solving) the problem. But I don't know what they survey
could have told us."

Executive Director of Secondary Instruction Harry Crenshaw served as the
district's representative during the commission's recent meeting, but could
not be reached for comment Thursday.

The commission is in its first year of operation and was formed as a result
of the Denton County Drug Summit conducted last year. The organization's
mission statement is to reduce the impact of alcohol and other drugs in the
county.

In addition, the commission plans to provide public policy direction,
planning and advocacy for enhanced substance abuse prevention,
intervention, and treatment services for Denton County youth and their
families.

County officials believe the survey provides school districts and the
county with knowledge of how bad the drug problem is.

"Results tell you a lot", Krueger said. "It tells you whether or not what
you're doing is working".

Larry Mankoff, coordinator of Denton ISD's Mental health and Substance
Abuse Program, said the survey has provided Denton with a starting point in
determining numbers.

"We as a district want to have a baseline of information to find out the
level of drug use and trends," said Mankoff, who is also vice chairman of
the commission. "One of the valuable things about the survey is that A&M
provides you with information from districts across the state so you can
compare results."

Krueger, who also serves on the substance abuse commission, said LISD's
absence is hindering it from providing numbers for state grant applications
that could benefit county drug programs.

"I'm not saying if we had their data we would get the grants, but without
them we can't even apply," he said.

Commission officials have told LIDS officials if they find a survey they
consider suitable then they will switch.

"We simply need a system where we're comparing apples to apples", Mankoff
said. "We would be glad to switch over".

Commission members said by not having the participation of the largest
school district in the county, they're hindered in their ability to provide
cross-county data.

"The district (LISD) has to make a decision on how its going to get
information", Mankoff said. "If you don't collect information, you're just
guessing".

Checked-by: Richard Lake