DRUG STRATEGY INCLUDES DOG

A drug-sniffing dog could be poking its nose around Red Deer Catholic
middle and high schools by September 2007.

An RCMP passive drug dog is part of a new drug strategy action plan
the school division is working to implement.

"The dog would just be part of Red Deer Catholic and when needed, it
would be available in our schools," said Paul Stewart, supervisor of
student services.

Red Deer Catholic has had RCMP dogs visit schools to detect drugs in
students' lockers since 2003.

RCMP and dogs are allowed to conduct unannounced searches of schools
with a school administrator.

A passive drug dog and the school resource officer would spend time
with students to detect drugs that students could be carrying.

But the dog will be more than a drug detector.

"Our kids are going to have that dog, and get to know it," said
superintendent Don Dolan.

A contest will also be held to name the dog.

Dolan said drugs have not been a problem at schools and the new
action plan is a proactive approach to maintain a safe environment
for students.

"We want to keep our schools as clean as they have been.

"We know that drugs in Central Alberta are a problem. The RCMP are
saying that. Local health agencies are saying that. We're not hiding from it."

Red Deer Catholic would follow the footsteps of school jurisdictions
in St. Albert and Wetaskiwin where passive drug dogs are used.

The Catholic division is working with the City of Red Deer and local
RCMP to set up the program.

The dog would cost about $36,000. The division will seek funding from
Health Canada and corporate sponsors.

Other Red Deer Catholic drug strategy initiatives will include hiring
a youth addictions counsellor, teacher training, student groups
focused on prevention, and resource materials to discourage drug use.

Surveys will also be conducted in September to find out what
students, staff and parents want to see as part of the drug strategy.