DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS IN SCHOOLS

Barring a last-minute change, drug-sniffing dogs will be prowling
Abbotsford schools in September and it seems everybody - students
included - is happy about it. "This is something I think should have
been done a year or even two years ago," said school board
vice-chairman John Smith. "We need to make a stand on this."

The proposal was approved by school board trustees on Monday and the
board's policy committee is currently fine-tuning it. Once it's
finalized in June the board will vote on it again.

"I'm pleased it looks like it's going to happen," said school trustee
Uultsje DeJong, who introduced the motion earlier this month. "I just
want to try to put any obstacles in place that we can stop this drug
problem. . . We're responsible for over 19,000 students.

"If we can impact them and their parents we need to do it."

DeJong said his vision is to have the dogs check random middle and
high schools on a monthly basis. Because the Abbotsford Police
Department may not have the resources to do the searches, DeJong said
the likely option is paying a private handler - money he feels would
be well spent.

"We do have to look at the cost carefully. We also have to look at
what the drugs are costing the school district now," he said. "There
is a cost of having the problems we have."

As well as drug-sniffing dogs, the school board also approved
drug-free zones in a two-block radius around schools.

Anyone - students or other members of the public - disobeying drug
laws within those zones is subject to stricter penalties.

For instance, a person caught with drugs for the purpose of
trafficking will face triple the normal penalty, including fines,
probation, community service hours or jail time.

A person caught with drugs for personal use will be subject to twice
the penalty.

DeJong said the plans have been met with approval by all stakeholders:
fellow board members, principals, parents and students.

"That's one of the reasons we've been so adamant about this," he said.
"The support is there . . . and it's time to tackle this problem we're
facing."

"I agree with the dogs," said Des McKay, principal of W.J. Mouat
Secondary School. "Most of the kids, they don't want the drugs around.
We should do whatever it takes to make the schools safe. . . Everybody
has to take a stand. This is a war. It's a war on drugs."

Students at Mouat were also supportive of the plan. All seven of the
kids interviewed gave their approval.

"People who . . . make the stupid decisions are the ones that will
pay," said Grade 12 student Stefanie Halldorson.

"It may not solve the problem, but it might help," added Alea Nash,
also in Grade 12.

"I think it's OK. I don't think anyone . . . who's obeying the rules
will really care," said Stephanie Hobbs, 18.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

"I think it's a totally good idea. Lockers aren't supposed to be used
for that. People definitely won't bring [drugs] to school . . . and
put them in their lockers." - Andrew Field, Grade 12.

"I don't really see why anyone would have a problem with it. I guess
they're going to do whatever it takes to keep the drugs out." - Dakota
Martin, Grade 9.

"I think it's a good thing. That'd be fine." - Drell Helina, Grade 10.

"Maybe it will cut down on people selling them [drugs]." - Albert
Declercq Grade 9.

"Do I think this is what people want? I'm not 100 per cent sure.
Generally I would expect the community would support it." - school
board chairwoman Joanne Field.

"People need to wake up to the fact that you can't stick your head in
the sand. I believe fervently a stand needs to be taken and people
need to be held accountable." - Bill MacGregor, current principal of
the Career Technical Centre. He brought drug-sniffing dogs to Rick
Hansen Secondary School for a year in the late 1990s.