PARENTS WANT SCHOOL LOCKERS SEARCHED

Parents Want The School Division To Step-Up Drug Searches.

A delegation from the WCHS parent council implored the school board, April
14, to allow random dog searches in a lock-down situation.

The school council is aware drugs are more prevalent in rural communities
due to the information provided by the RCMP, AADAC, and most recently, a
survey of WCHS students.

"As parents, we are seeing a rise of blatant drug use in and around our
building. We need to send a strong message to create a deterrent," said
Shirley Patterson, parent council representative. "Random dog searches in a
lock down situation would accomplish our goal."

The parent council members noted they don't want to prosecute the students,
but rather let the searches be an educational tool. "Compare it to photo
radar," said Bev Sweet, parent council member. "Are we slowing down because
that photo radar is there. I am. (This way students know) the potential is
there for dog searches. Be aware."

The suggestion was met with mixed emotion by the board. While vice-chair
Barb Johnson welcomed the opportunity to show the students "where the line
is," trustee Ed Zacharko questioned if the other 700 sets of parents agreed
with lock downs and drug searches.

Trustee Gerd Andres wondered aloud if implementing dog searches would label
all high school students as "bad kids."

"If a kid tries drugs, it doesn't mean they are a bad person. They've made
a bad choice," said Marie Anne Fournier, parent council chair. "If we turn
a blind eye to them smoking pot in the parking lot are we sending them a
message it's OK to do it here, but not in our school."

The delegation didn't balk at telling the board they would expect the same
treatment at any of the schools in the division, especially in light of the
survey results which indicate students have experimented with drugs in
elementary and junior high school.

Something must be done to keep local schools a safe and caring educational
environment, said Patterson.

"We must not keep our heads in the sand because this (drug use) issue will
effect all of our families in one way or another, either on a personal
basis, in our businesses or in our community as a whole."

The division's current policy, which is currently under review, allows
principals to call in drug dogs to search schools, provided they have
probable and reasonable cause, said superintendent Hal Kluczny.

"Dogs can be used, but do it carefully."

The division's drug search policy is being reviewed to clarify the use of
drug dogs and personal searches once administrators have received a legal
opinion.