BOE APPROVES DRUG DOG CONTRACT

Petersburg High School students toting along illegal drugs to class may
want to rethink that dangerous decision.

The Grant County Board of Education, Tuesday, endorsed a contract with
Mineral County resident Robbie Smith to provide drug-sniffer dog services
at PHS. The cost of the contract will be $170 per visit.

Officials say the contract is designed to encourage students against
illegal behavior.

BOE members were less receptive to a proposal by the Hardy County Pro-Life
Chapter. That group has asked permission to provide informational sessions
at PHS.

Stopping short of denying the request, BOE members referred it to the
school nurse and Grant County Health Department for further review.

Drug Dog Services

Under terms of the agreement, Smith will make unannounced visits to the
school. The cost was computed on the basis of five visits, although Smith
told BOE members the actual number of appearances will depend on his time
schedule.

Although Smith is employed as a special officer with the Mineral County
Drug Task Force, his visits to PHS will be as a private citizen. If drugs
are found, it will be up to the PHS administration to determine a course of
action.

"I'm not here to find somebody," explained Smith. "I'd like to prevent drug
use."

Smith, who has a similar arrangement with Keyser High School, said schools
are often where drug providers ply their trade with potential customers. He
hopes use of a sniffer dog can break that cycle.

Smith's dog can detect a variety of illegal drugs, including marijuana,
heroin, crack and prescription pain killers.

BOE members Dorene Kitzmiller and Dottie Riggleman both liked the idea of
unannounced visits to PHS. Kitzmiller said previous sniffer-dog visits to
the school were sometimes accompanied by rumors of advanced warning.

"It seemed as if someone knew (ahead of time)," she said.

"My wife doesn't even know where I'm going," responded Smith. "No one knows
when I come."

Marsha Carr-Lambert, superintendent of schools, added: "He (Smith)
schedules himself."

Smith told BOE members he also handles a dog trained to detect explosives.