KSS MOVES TOWARD DRUG FREE ZONING

Kwalikum Secondary School officials want to up the ante for drug users and
traffickers on and around school grounds.

KSS principal Darryl Craig and vice-principal Rollie Koop introduced the
District 69 school board to the idea of creating a drug-free zone at its
regular meeting last Tuesday, an idea that has proven effective in some
B.C. and U.S. schools.

The board expressed its support, but the plan is still in its preliminary
stages.

"We hope to have it in place by May or June," Craig said Friday.

He credits Koop and Jeff Taylor, also a vice-principal at KSS, for coming
up with the idea through their lunch hour walks around KSS and Qualicum Beach.

"It would create an area of safety for those kids who don't want exposure
to drugs or peer pressure," Koop said.

The zone boundaries are being discussed.

At KSS last year, 22 drug-related suspensions were handed out to students.
This year, 26 drug-related suspensions -- many for second and third
offences -- occurred before Christmas.

Koop and Craig agree marijuana seems to be the illegal drug used most, and
feel recent headlines about possible decriminalization of it has created a
community acceptance of its use.

They, along with Taylor, have already met with Oceanside RCMP, Qualicum
Beach mayor Teunis Westbroek, and KSS parents, and say everyone is on board
to getting a drug-free zone established, but must finalize plans with all
partner groups.

It's important to have Crown counsel involved as well, Craig said, so
consequences are enforced -- a meeting with Crown is still a week away.

Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Garry Cox and KSS liaison Const. Sheila Roy both back
the plan, Cox said, but must still work out the details. Such details
include the possibility of occasional RCMP drug "sweeps" at KSS with dogs,
heightened RCMP presence at the school, and ensuring someone caught with
drugs is charged and perhaps, taken to a cell at the RCMP detachment.
Parents would have to pick the student up at the station in order for him
or her to be released.

"We want parents to take the responsibility that is, I believe, rightfully
theirs," Westbroek said.

He wholeheartedly supports the initiative, but knows costs are involved to
get extra RCMP help and other aspects of the drug-free zone underway.

"I'm prepared to back this to the fullest extent possible ... any costs, I
think, would be worth it in the end," he said.

"It's not just a school problem, it's a community problem."