DISTRICT TO RE-EVALUATE DRUG POLICY

Arrests of two third-graders prompt officials to look into drug-education
programs for younger students

ST. LUCIE COUNTY -- A felony marijuana arrest of two Fort Pierce
third-graders Monday might change the way drug-resistance education is
taught in St Lucie County.

Port St. Lucie police arrested two third-graders at Rivers Edge Elementary
early Monday afternoon for possessing 15 small bags of marijuana, totaling
less than 20 grams, on school grounds.

Possession of drugs at or within 1,000 feet of school grounds is a felony.

Another student observed the two third-graders with the drugs and reported
it to school officials, according to an arrest affidavit.

One of the students claimed he picked the bags up off the ground at 8th and
17th streets in Fort Pierce, then sold three bags to the other student, the
affidavit states.

The students have been suspended for 10 days and are scheduled for an
expulsion hearing.

Although School Resource Officers conduct informal drug and safety
discussions with elementary school students, formal drug education does not
begin until fifth grade with the Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education
(DARE) program.

Officials are re-evaluating the policy in light of Monday's incident.

"I've seen a trend of more serious incidents at younger and younger ages,"
said Schools Superintendent Bill Vogel. "It's a grave concern."

"It's a very unfortunate situation and it's hard to believe two
third-graders could be involved at such a young age with drugs -- but . . .
it happened yesterday," said school board member Judi Miller. "It just goes
to re-emphasize how important drug prevention really is."

Vogel said Tuesday the district will be looking into drug-education programs
for younger children, but that he envisions drug-safety lessons could be
incorporated into the curriculum rather than using a full-scale unit like
DARE.

"Our time is so limited," he said.

Schools spokeswoman Michelle Sjogren said the incidents do not indicate the
current system is failing. "I think we are doing a pretty good job," she
said. "I think the fact that students made an adult aware says something
about how well we're doing."

County School Resource Officers Sgt. Dave Trimm, said the arrests will not
change the way his group functions.

"We're not going to change how we do business," he said. "We had to arrest
elementary school students but this is not the very first occasion of it."

Trimm said the amount of drugs confiscated made the incident unusual,
because students usually conduct most drug deals off campus.

He said Monday's events, however, need to be viewed in perspective.

"Do I think it will repeat itself this year? No. This is the act of two
kids, in a school of hundreds in a district of thousands. I'm not going to
run around in a panic mode."