DRUGS, DAMAGE FOUND BY SCHOOL

The ex-Parents Advisory Council chair is expressing concerns this
week that abuse of drugs at area high schools is being swept under
the carpet after finding what he described as a "drug nest" on a
trail in Albion Park, near Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary.

"The issue was a major contributing factor in my resignation as PAC
chair," he wrote in an e-mail sent to the school's PAC members as
well as the TIMES, adding he didn't want to be identified. "While I
believe drugs are a cancer that needs to be cut out from our society,
staff members believe a zero drug policy would end up hurting the
chances of some students."

In the e-mail, he says SRT's proximity to wooded areas make avoiding
detection easy for drug users.

"Students can hide in the district's park."

The e-mail also included photos of a homemade crack pipe he found, as
well other drug paraphernalia and damage done to a log railing.

The issue was discussed at a regular PAC meeting Monday night,
however The TIMES was told it could not participate.

"We will be discussing (the) e-mail at the PAC meeting, which is open
to the parents and guardians of SRTSS students," said PAC vice-chair
Shelley Muir by e-mail Monday afternoon.

When asked earlier about the former chair's e-mail, Muir replied, "I
will not comment on the specifics of (the) e-mail other than to say:
Mr. (Mike) Keenan, the principal of SRTSS, and Ms. (Cathie) Watkins,
the vice-principal, are experienced administrators with excellent
reputations. I trust that if there are any specific instances at
SRTSS that may involve drugs, of any sort, they will be handled by
the administration of SRTSS in an informed and appropriate manner."

SRT principal Mike Keenan was also sent a copy of the former chair's e-mail.

"This is not a huge concern for me," said Keenan by phone Monday.
"I've worked in four high schools as an administrator and it's not a
concern for me in terms of requiring drastic or immediate action.
This is an ongoing situation that all schools deal with on a regular basis."