MILPITAS SCHOOLS ARE PROUD OF ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

Milpitas schools are proud of anti-drug efforts

KEEPING our schools safe from dangerous drugs is a high priority in the
Milpitas community. As a result of our early intervention and awareness
programs, the Milpitas Unified School District has one of lowest drug and
alcohol incident rates in the county. And we intend to keep it that way by
exploring all practical and effective programs that can prevent and
discourage drug use by our students. Even one student using drugs or
alcohol is one too many.

We are very disappointed in the commentary by Joanne Jacobs (Opinion, Feb.
23) criticizing a Milpitas Unified School District proposal to possibly use
trained dogs to randomly check for the presence of drugs on our campuses.
Jacobs chose to jump to unwarranted conclusions and condemn the program
without even calling the school district administration or board to check
her ``facts.''

The school board has not made a final decision to approve a contract with
Interquest Detection Canines, Inc. and will not until May. The board took
action at its Feb. 24 meeting to approve a set of informational meetings
whereby parents, students, staff and understanding of the program and
provide valuable input into the decision-making process.

Jacobs suggested that the funding for the canine search program would be
better spent on hiring a drug counselor to work with students. Milpitas
Unified School District already devotes $378,799 to drug awareness,
intervention, and drug and alcohol counseling programs. The cost of the
proposed canine program is a nominal $300 per visit or $4,800 for 18 random
visits to district schools.

It is important to stress that the use of drug-sniffing dogs will be done
on a random basis. This practice will serve not only to locate drugs,
alcohol and weapons on campus, but will act as a powerful deterrent. The
dogs do not sniff people; they check cars, buildings, lockers, and personal
belongings left in classrooms identified for evacuation and search. This
process is very similar to programs used when going through customs. There
are a number of school districts in the state -- including one in Santa
Clara County -- using this program successfully.

Keeping our kids safe is everyone's responsibility in our community. We
have a strong working relationship with the City of Milpitas and our local
police department. We work very closely with the police to keep an eye on
the park across from Milpitas High School. A youth service bureau is
located at police headquarters and is staffed by both a district employee
and a member of the police force. Together, we provide an extensive level
of drug and alcohol counseling. But even with these safeguards, drugs and
alcohol are still on campus. Both students and parents continue to tell us
this.

The random search by the canine patrol will send an unequivocal message to
students and the community that we have zero tolerance for drugs, alcohol
or weapons in the learning environment. It will also tell the gangs and
drug dealers that our schools are "off limits.''

Further, it does not seem productive to the debate to be engaged in name
calling. Calling the program ``stupid'' when what we are trying to achieve
is a dialogue between parents, students, and staff about drugs, alcohol and
weapons does not further discussion.

We are proud that our district has one of the lowest drug and alcohol
incident rates in the county and state. That is by design, not default. And
we wish it to continue.

- -- Mary Frances Callan

Superintendent, Milpitas Unified School District