SCHOOLS AND DRUGS MEAN POLICE AND LARGE FINES

If you're caught with drugs or alcohol within 500 metres of Kwalikum Secondary
School and Qualicum Beach Elementary, expect to be in front of a judge quickly,
facing double the usual fine.

Both schools, the Oceanside RCMP and Town of Qualicum Beach, are establishing a
drug free zone - large enough to surround both places of education and into the
downtown core. Signs marking the zone will be going up at the end of the month,
prior to the start of the school year.

It's a system of deterrence, says KSS principal Jeff Taylor, that tries to use
quick justice and hefty penalties to keep drugs away from the schools.

"I really have a lot of faith in the fine system," Taylor said. "Under the old
system, it would take too long and [young offenders] might not get anything.
Now, they're going to feel the crunch in money."

Taylor said he's sensitive to the fact some people might think the zone means
KSS is a drug haven.

"It's not that way, it really isn't," he explained. "KSS is not a school of big
problems. The biggest is students who are late to class."

What the zone is for, he said, is to keep the drug element away from the
students while they are at - or are on their way to - school.

According to Cpl. Garry Cox of the RCMP, Bill C-454 under the Controlled Drugs
and Substances Act, allows for the creation of a drug free zone. Cpl. Cox said
they have the co-operation of Crown counsel in seeking fast prosecution and
possible increased fines.

"We haven't identified a big problem at the schools," Cpl. Cox said. "We are
more concerned with trafficking outside of the school environment."

Having said that, however, Cpl. Cox added police know there is some drug use at
schools in Oceanside.

To combat this, Taylor said staff and students will be taught how to recognize
the signs of drug use, and the CrimeStoppers system will receive more
promotion.

An RCMP expert held a drug recognition session with staff, Taylor said, adding
more are planned for October. The courses help teachers recognize drugs and
their paraphernalia - as well as physical signs of drug use in people.

"Students know we know what marijuana smells like," Taylor continued. "And we
don't want that to encourage kids to take harder drugs, so we are learning to
recognize other drugs."

He said he hopes students also learn the signs of drug use, and either tell a
teacher they trust, or use Crime Stoppers.

"The stigma about being a 'rat' isn't there like it used to be," Taylor said,
adding he feels there are more students willing to report drug use at school
than in the past.

Under school board policy, students caught with controlled substances face a
five-day suspension for a first offense and mandatory counselling; 20 days for
a second offense; and six months or the rest of the school year, whichever is
longer, for the third.

The RCMP will be keeping statistics on people caught within the new drug free
zone, said Cpl. Cox. He said police are expecting an increase in the area, as
they and teachers become more vigilant at the start.