DISTRICT LOOKING FOR CASH TO KEEP ITS COP

When it comes to paying for an RCMP liaison officer in the schools,
it appears School District 73 stands alone.

Karl deBruijn, assistant superintendent for special education, said
he's only aware of one other B.C. school district that pays for the
full-time position, and it did so in mimicking SD 73's lead.

Other school liaison officers in the province are generally paid for
by the municipality within which they work.

The position of Const. Connie Buckle, which comes at a cost of
$108,000 annually, is currently being reviewed as part of the
district's budgeting process.

"It was really a trial program and the board was able to secure the
funding for a couple of years," when the position started in 2004,
said deBruijn.

Budgets are tight, but he's hopeful money can be found.

Feedback from students, parents and staff regarding Buckle's
contribution to the schools has been positive, he said.

A recent meeting with RCMP was also positive, deBruijn said, but
there was no direct discussion around funding.

The liaison officer was brought into being as part of the district's
broader action plan against drugs and alcohol.

The plan was a response to concern over rising student suspensions
related to alcohol and drug use.

"She's accomplished a lot in a short period of time," deBruijn said
of the rapport Buckle has built with schools and, most significantly,
with students.

"Never in Kamloops have we had an RCMP officer dedicated to working
with the schools."

Rather, deBruijn said, there have been "well-intentioned" attempts of
establishing a liaison program in the past which lacked consistency
as officers were pulled away at times for various reasons.

"Through no fault of anyone, it wasn't effective . .