CAPISTRANO SCHOOLS SKIRT RULE ON WRISTBANDS

Education: Supporters of the traditional anti-drug symbol enlist the help of
sheriff's deputies and others.

San Jaun Capistrano-Red-wristbands supporters found a way to stretch a
controversial new rule that would have kept students in Orange County's
third-largest school district from getting the elastic drug-awareness
bracelets.

Sheriff's deputies got the OK to pass out the wristbands to Capitrano
Unified School District students this week in celebration of National Red
Ribbon Week.

District officials decided earlier this year not to order the drug-awareness
wristbands for its 42,000 students. It also barred district personnel from
handing them out. Instead, the district allotted funds for individual
schools to use for other anti-drug activities.

Superintendent James Fleming made the ruling after receiving a letter
protesting the wristbands as unsafe. The parents of a Nuguel Middle School
student wrote that their son's eye was injured last year when another
student used his wristband as a slingshot and launched a berry.

Michael Hayde, president of the Drug Use Is Life Abuse programs, wrote to
Fleming, chiding the district about its decision not to distribute the
wristbands, which students can use for discounts at local businesses. The
bands also offer students the opportunity to discuss drug awareness with
parents and peers. Countywide, more than 750.000 students usually receive
them.

"It was a bad decision," Hayde said. "We applaud the district for thinking
about it and stepping up and doing the right thing."

San Juan Accelerated Elementary School's PTA passed out the first large
batch of the wristbands Friday, handing them out to the school's 1,100
students.

Julie Jennings, Capistrano Unified spokeswoman, said the district's policy
is the same as it was earlier in the year: For liability reasons, district
personnel cannot hand out the wristbands, but outside agencies like the PTA
or sheriff's department can.

Doug Schauer, with the anti-gang Community Services Program, said the
district reacted to pressure from parents and the community, but he is glad
the program will continue.

"The wristbands symbolize fighting against drugs," Schauer said. "It had a
tradition behind it."

Checked-by: Don Beck