DRUG DOGS DISCUSSED AT PRAIRIE ROSE MEETING

A drug dog demonstration and a presentation about nut allergies
highlighted the October 9 Prairie Rose School Board general meeting.

"The Medicine Hat Police Department made a presentation to us. The
officer then gave us an overview of the drug awareness program and how
the dog actually makes a connection with the students," said PRRD
Superintendent, Doug Nicholls.

During the demonstration, the police planted three or four stashes
around the conference room for the dog to sniff out.

"When the dog discovers the stash, he simply sits there. The handler
can then direct him in a particular area. The general idea of course
is to keep drugs out of our schools. They choose a chocolate lab a pup
and they train it as a drug dog starting at six or eight weeks old.
The dog is around the police 24 hours a day and it becomes his pet,"
said Nicholls.

The Dogs for Drug Free School Program was started in the Medicine Hat
Public and Catholic School systems in 2005 to raise awareness to the
consequences of drug use and to deter drug use and possession within
the school environment.

The program educates the youth through demonstrations such as the one
held at the PRRD meeting last Tuesday, about making good choices about
drugs. As well, seeing the dogs in the schools on a regular basis
provides a constant reminder to the students.

The school board was impressed with the demonstration but do not want
to make any decisions until they obtain more information and allow the
school principals to see the demonstration as well.

"The board would like to pursue this more before we make any
decisions. We plan on giving a presentation to our school principals
prior to making a decision," he said.

The board also reviewed their current severe allergy policy and
concluded that the measures that are in place now are meeting and
province's standards.

"The board felt it was time to review our nut allergy policy. We
reviewed what our current policy states and had a respiratory
therapist give us a brief presentation," said Nicholls.

"We also checked with other school divisions in Zone 6 and determined
that the most recognized that current policies are efficient. We will
also be reviewing it with our school councils," he added.

Prairie Rose School Division has in place a number of steps that
schools follow if a student has severe nut allergies. First, an
awareness program is established in the schools. Then, letters are
sent to parents, and a photo with information on the allergic student
is posted in the staff room and staff is trained to act if there is an
allergic reaction.

"Overall, we feel the board is consistent with the standards. Through
our awareness program, we also encourage students and staff to wash
their hands after lunch to prevent contamination," he said.