DRUG-FREE ZONE POLICY LET SLIDE AT SCHOOL

Parents are concerned students are openly selling marijuana on school
property and ignoring the district's drug-free zones, a trustee charged
Wednesday night

Cheryl Wiebe said she's heard from parents that the zero-tolerance policy
for drug use on or near school grounds is not being upheld because staff
call the RCMP only when students are caught with two grams or more.
"Parents said kids bring one gram in the morning. When they don't get
caught, they sell it. Then they do it again at recess and lunch. They have
the potential to sell four grams (in one day) without the RCMP being
notified. Do we need to firm up our drug-free zones and make them tighter?"
Wiebe asked at the board's meeting

Supt. Ron Rubadeau said the zones haven't been well policed in the last two
or three years due to a lack of manpower and confusing directives about
legislation from the RCMP's national office. Now that's changed

"The RCMP at the end of April began enforcing the drug-free zones once
again," he said

Peter Malloy, director of special services, is to meet with senior Mounties
today about the issue, said Rubadeau. He said the district won't tolerate
any amount of drug use or possession on school property.