FROM INSTRUCTORS TO INMATES

NEW MARKET -- A jail cell used for carnivals at New Market Elementary
was dusted off and placed in the school's main lobby. The cell will
be the temporary home for two South Montgomery employees.

New Market Principal Judy Brewer and guidance counselor Sara
Fitzgerald gave children a preview Tuesday morning of the cell they
will stay in Friday. Each will take turns and spend half of the
school day, about three and a half hours each, inside the cell.

The fund-raiser coincides with the first Montgomery County Jail
Lock-Down in the new jail facility, 1010 Whitlock Ave.,
Crawfordsville. The new jail event is scheduled for Friday through
Saturday.

Both Brewer and Fitzgerald plan to participate in the new jail
lock-down. Bail money, which will be used for A.H.E.A.D. Coalition
anti-drug programs, will be $150 for both of them.

"We decided to come up with something fun for the students,"
Fitzgerald said. "We challenged the students that if they raised $200
we would stay in the school jail cell."

The school cell was brought out of mothballs and placed in the lobby.
A cot, milk crates, a tree, family pictures and Rocko the school
mascot icon were placed into the cell to give the environment a
warmer atmosphere.

Custodian Gary Fruits put two green-colored collection buckets in
front on the cell. One bucket has the sign for people to keep Brewer
and Fitzgerald in jail and the other has one for them to get out of
the cell.

"So far, there is more money for us to stay in jail," Fitzgerald said
and laughed

The children enjoyed seeing the women in the cell when pupils began
arriving Tuesday morning for classes, Fitzgerald said. The new jail
lock-down is a good cause and goes toward anti-drug programs for the
A.H.E.A.D. Coalition, she said.

"The jail cell at the school has been a great way to include students
and staff for a good cause," Fitzgerald said. "Officer (Ron) Newlin
was here for the D.A.R.E. program and gave us real jail clothes to
use."

Newlin is first sergeant with the Montgomery County
Police.

Kelly Trusty, A.H.E.A.D. coalition executive director, said the new
jail lock-down experience will give people a chance to take a stand
against substance abuse, learn drug prevention skills and receive an
education of what 12 hours inside the jail is like.

Methamphetamine and alcohol abuse represent the largest jail
population percentages, Trusty said.

The new jail lock-down is from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.

While Brewer serves time in the school jail she receives several of
the same requests from teachers.

"The teachers have asked if I would grade their papers while I was in
jail," Brewer said and smiled.