SCHOOL DRUG POLICY SHELVED

Parents Line Up To Dissent Controversial Draft Policy; Revision Now In
The Works

The Kootenay Lake School District has decided to postpone the adoption
of the controversial drug and alcohol policy until a later date.

Policy committee chair Bob Henderson cited the reason for the delay
was due largely in part to the substantial amount of "public criticism
by DPAC."

"I am asking to have the policy removed from the table and taken back
to the policy table to deal with the concerns that we have heard,"
Henderson said.

In recent weeks, the District's Parent Advisory Council slammed draft
Policy No. 300.1: Use of Illegal Drugs, Alcohol and Inhalants, which
was undergoing six weeks of field-testing, saying it was seemingly
based more on a discipline approach rather than a preventative
approach tod drug use.

According to DPAC president Lenora Trenaman, the committee has
received 18 full pages of feedback from the community which voiced
concerns about the policy.

"All of them prefer a direction that stresses education, awareness and
safety and have serious concerns about the use of suspension,"
Trenaman told trustees at Tuesday's board meeting in Nelson.

"They are concerned about how the administration deals with students
who break the rules."

Henderson said that individuals who support the policy likely wouldn't
provide feedback on the draft policy.

"People don't respond with feedback unless it's negative," Henderson
said.

At the board meeting, DPAC had several individuals from various
backgrounds including a teacher, parents, a statement from West
Kootenay Boundary Addictions Society and a representative from W.E.
Graham Community Services Society, address the board.

School District No. 8 teacher Herb Couch told trustees that safety is
not the main concern about the policy in question.

"This is a suspension policy, mainly for students suspected of
marijuana use," Couch charged.

But district superintendent Brian Butcher denied the allegations that
the policy is all about suspensions.

"I think it's time we stop suspensions for kids experimenting,"
Butcher said. "But kids do have to go home [if it appears they're
under the influenc] because I don't think it's safe to have kids under
the influence. I don't think it's good for them or the rest of the
student body."

Butcher said the purpose of the policy is to bring some consistency
when dealing with drug and alcohol issues district-wide.

Students aren't suspended for first time offenses, he said. In fact,
the first time a student is caught under the influence of drugs in
school they will meet with the principal, their parents or guardians.
The group would then set up a plan to determine how they will deal
with the situation.

For the second offense, again they meet with the principal and parents
or guardians and put the plan they devised in place. It doesn't
necessarily mean that the student would have to go to drug and alcohol
counselling. But it is something that the parents and the school can
both agree to.

Butcher said he was puzzled by the reaction of the parents and DPAC
regarding the policy.

"I think part of it is because there is a lack of understanding of the
intent," he said. "And when I compare this policy that we have in
draft with what I see in other districts there are mandatory
suspensions, which I'm absolutely opposed to."

Winlaw trustee Penny Tees was happy to see the policy wasn't adopted
at the board meeting earlier this week.

"I think there is confusion within the tone and language within the
policy statement," Tees said.

The policy will be revised and go through an additional six weeks of
field testing.