DIST. 207 BOARD REACTS TO ALCOHOL, DRUG USE SURVEY

The Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education saw
results April 10 of a survey on alcohol and drug use given to
students at all three Maine schools in December.

In a brief presentation, Don Marzolf, coordinator of assessment for
District 207, highlighted findings of the survey and trends. He
pointed out that alcohol, marijuana and tobacco are the most common
substances used by Maine high school students, but compared to
results from the last survey conducted five years ago, usage is down.

The survey results appeared in the March 16 and 23 editions of the
Park Ridge Herald-Advocate.

The results show alcohol use to be one of the biggest areas of
concern for the district, with 85 percent of Maine South students
saying they have tried alcohol. At Maine West, 76 percent reported
trying alcohol, and at Maine East the amount was 67 percent.

Marzolf said that the district's three student assistant
coordinators, hired to address issues related to substance abuse,
said the fact that 23 percent of students admitted drinking alcohol
at home while their parents knew about it was "striking."

Board member Jeff Bergen called alcohol use "the greatest villain"
in schools. He hinted at the school board looking at a policy that
would address alcohol usage by students outside of school.

Board member Joann Braam asked how the district can best communicate
the survey results to parents.

Superintendent Steve Snider said the best way is through actual conversation.

"Less paper, more face-to-face is how this needs to be communicated," he said.

Snider also pointed out the approach the Maine Community Youth
Assistance Foundation (MCYAF) has taken to get positive messages
across to the community concerning alcohol and tobacco use by local
youth. MCYAF has been posting messages on public signs in the towns
District 207 serves and on posters in each of the schools and local businesses.