STUDENTS CAUGHT WITH DRUGS NOT SENT AWAY

When a student is caught with drugs or alcohol, the first and only
response used to be to suspend them.

But now, School District 69 is using a unique, collaborative approach
to work with the student instead.

Introduced as a pilot project last year, the district now gives
students in-school suspensions and sits them down with the District
Drug and Alcohol Review Committee (DDARC) to look into issues around
their substance use.

"The whole approach is based on an open and honest conversation with
their families," said Assistant Superintendent Rollie Koop.

Rather than "punishing" the student by sending them into the community
without any resources, students are now required to work through a
workbook in school which prepares them for the meeting with the DDARC,
which includes a district administrator, school counsellor, Vancouver
Island Health Authority drug/alcohol counsellor and their parent or
guardian.

The collaborative committee brings in as many community partner groups
as they can to address each individual student's situation.

The basis of the new process is the long, honest conversation with the
student in which there is no blame or talk about morality or right or
wrong, explained district Director of Instruction Gillian Wilson.

The goal is not punishment, but looking at why the student was using
the substance, assessing their needs and walking them through any
programs or services that may be useful.

More than 100 students went through the process last year and Koop
said the results have been immediately obvious, including many
breakthroughs with students who are struggling with substance abuse
issues.

He points out there is a big difference between a student who sips a
cooler before a school dance and a student who drinks or smokes a
joint every morning before school, but in the old system they both
faced the same suspension.

A community/district liaison worker helps mediate the process and
support the student to remain in school and graduate and go on to be a
value to society rather than dropping out and becoming a drain.

This liaison worker is considered a key to the whole process by the
community groups involved, but it is not yet a fully funded position
and funding is just being cobbled together month by month.

"This program really struck a cord in the community," said Renate
Sutherland, executive director of the Society of Organized Services,
one of the main partners in the program.

She said even in the current economic climate, with the known donor
fatigue, they have found a lot of eager supporters.

Key donors so far, who Sutherland pointed out aren't doing it for the
recognition, include the Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach, Black and
White Party Rentals, Coast Realty Group, Windsor Plywood, BMO Nesbitt
Burns, Tim Horton's and the Beach Club.

To help keep the program going the committee is looking to hold a big
informational gathering in the early spring to bring in more partners,
raise funds and let the community know about the work they are doing.