DRUG-FREE ZONES, RANDOM SEARCHES IN SCHOOLS

Shortly after Surrey school board backed away authorizing random
searches in their schools by drug sniffing dogs, Abbotsford school
board moved forward on the initiative.

On Monday, local school trustees voted in favour of establishing a
policy to allow regular random drug searches, as well as signing a
memorandum of understanding to establish drug free zones. Trustee
Cathy Goodfellow was the sole vote against, saying the time line for
establishing the policy - by June 21 - didn't allow for adequate
"stakeholder" input.

The two initiatives addressed Monday come in advance of a
comprehensive drug strategy, which is expected by the end of the year.
"We know it's not going to solve our drug problem," said trustee
Uultsje De Jong.

However, he said it is important to deal with the issue and to create
a safe learning environment for students. "The last thing we want to
do as a school district is become an enabler," he said.

Bringing drug dogs into local schools is not new. Rick Hansen
secondary has in the past brought dogs into the school to check for
drugs. Abbotsford Police are currently investigating the feasibility
of the using drug sniffing dogs.

The initiative would work together with the establishment of drug free
zones, which opens the door to harsher punishment for people caught
producing, transporting, distributing or using illegal drugs in or
near schools.

"We're one of the few school districts around here that does not have
a drug free zone policy in place," said De Jong.

Police, according to a proposed memorandum of understanding, must give
"priority one" status to all calls from schools reporting a person in
possession of illegal drugs and forward all cases of possession to
federal crown counsel.

Crown is responsible for prosecuting all drug infractions that
occurred in a drug free zone, and must seek higher penalties for the
offences. In Mission, where drug free zones have been in place for
three years, the feasibility of the program has been questioned.

Last year, Const. Marilyn Sexton said there were often more
appropriate measures available for discipline through the school
board, rather than the courts.

Mission schools could hand out 20-day suspensions, she said.