FILER SCHOOLS TACKLE SPREAD OF 'SPICE'

FILER - Administrators in the Filer School District are taking steps
to educate students on the potential dangers of a herbal mixture
commonly known as "spice" and sold locally under brand names like Hayze.

Filer High School Principal Leon Madsen informed school board members
Wednesday that two incidents where the marijuana-like substance was
used resulted in students being taken to the hospital.

"Hayze actually started showing up in the school a year ago last
October," he said. "Since then, once in the school and once at a game,
we've had to call an ambulance because kids have lost
consciousness."

As a result, he received approval to implement a voluntary on-campus
drug education program for students and independently contracted
counseling services that include parent participation.

"I don't believe we can consequence the kids enough, so we have to do
it through education," Madsen said. "We could enact our regular
five-day suspension but hold back some of those days and ask the
student to go through drug education and any needed counseling at
their own expense."

The high school has a social worker on staff who usually provides
on-campus counseling. But with possibly 5 percent of the student body
using spice, it's difficult to spend the time required for each student.

The program's education phase is scheduled to begin next week. Filer
Police Officer Bill Deetz will give a presentation during the junior
and senior class advisory time on Thursday.

"I'll be emailing information the kids receive to parents as well,"
Madsen said. "My strategy is to massage our policies so they reflect
what we're doing and get some education out."

Filer Middle School Principal Gary Moon told the school board that a
recent drug dog sweep of his school turned up no evidence of spice or
other drugs.

"We've had one incident but that was early on when this thing first
came out, Moon said. "I have a really good relationship with local law
enforcement. Regional canine training asked to come through one day,
swept every nook and cranny with about 15 dogs, and didn't find
anything. They were real surprised about that."