TRUSTEES TO ADDRESS LOITERING

Portage La Prairie - A group of about 10 citizens who live near
Portage Collegiate Institute made a surprise appearance at Portage la
Prairie School Division's meeting last night to voice concerns about
students loitering in their neighborhood.

Despite arriving unannounced, the board voted to allow Kevin Barnett
15 minutes to speak on behalf of the group.

Barnett told school trustees the neighbourhood is experiencing an
increasing amount of PCI students loitering due to a policy that
forces them off school property to smoke. He said the loitering has
been lasting all day long and is causing issues with littering and
vandalism, but the issue is much larger to Barnett.

"What I see as the problem is a lack of supervision," he said.

"It puts them at risk. They're no longer under adult supervision. It
introduces them to the possibility of drugs."

A resident of Dufferin Avenue West, who refused to provide his name,
told the school board, "It's not just cigarettes." He said he has been
seeing students smoking marijuana and "doing lines" on his street.

"The sooner you look after this you might save someone's life," he
told the school board after Barnett wrapped up his presentation.

Barnett said the no-smoking policy is sending the wrong message to
students, especially if they are suspended or expelled as a result. He
believes forcing kids off the property is a form of ignoring the true
problem.

Barnett removed a basketball net from his driveway because students
having been using it too often.

"I'm not there to supervise, so they're just there all day."

Richard Willett lives on St. George Avenue directly across the street
from PCI. "We've had upwards of 18 to 20 kids hanging around the back
fence. We're scared to leave a window open.

"It's getting to be a scary situation."

Willett is also concerned about the increased traffic on his street
that has been used by school buses. "We're down to one lane. A fire
engine would not be able to go through their easily. The situation is
dangerous."

After listening to the their concerns, school board chairwoman Yvette
Cuthbert assured the citizens their issues will be discussed and
Barnett will receive the board's response.

"It's always good to hear from the public about their concerns and the
board will take these into consideration and get back to them with our
thoughts on it," she said following the meeting.

Barnett's wife, Joani, previously brought the problem to the attention
of PCI administrators and the school board. She personally delivered
letters outlining her concerns to both on previous occasions. She
believes the school should have a designated smoking area for students.

PCI prinicipal Jim Pehura has previously said a designated smoking
area on school property would contravene the school's health policy.