EARLY INTERVENTION PART OF DRUG STRATEGY

Prevention, intervention and rehabilitation must all be parts of a
district-wide drug strategy, members of the committee told the school board
Monday. The committee reported to the board on its efforts thus far.

They believe intervention at the high school level needs greater attention,
and believe the Lions-Quest drug unit should be taught in all planning 10
classes. An assessment of programs in high schools will take place.

The committee is also working toward having all elementary and middle
schools, at the minimum, implement the Lions-Quest program as part of
prevention. Right now, about 15 of the 30-odd elementary schools are using
the Lions-Quest program.

School board chairman John Smith raised concerns that more needs to be done
in the younger grades to prevent students from starting to smoke. "I'm
concerned we don't do enough early enough to deal with youngsters and
tobacco," said Smith.

Trustee Joanne Field, who sits on the drug strategy committee, says it is a
complex issue and they are continuing to look at what the district can do
within a limited budget.

Trustee Uultsje De Jong, who brought the idea of a comprehensive drug
strategy forward, noted they started the work because there needs to be a
consistent plan across the district.

The committee is also working on an alternate to suspension plan for
students caught using or selling drugs. That will likely involve the student
completing some type of program/process before being allowed to return to
school, said assistant superintendent Bruce Ivany.