PUTTING STUDENT SAFETY FIRST

Ensuring safety for all community children is top priority for school
board officials, staff and the local RCMP.

Safe School Zone is a revised concept designating all activities
associated with schools, in and around the Whitecourt area, as being
Safe School Zones. If anyone is involved with illegal drugs, drug
paraphernalia, alcohol abuse, violent or other inappropriate
behaviour within or related to school activities, further
consequences will be considered and supported by the community.

Staff Sgt. Tom Pickard says this will cover all schools, not just the
high schools and will include grades from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Pickard is working with both school divisions -- Northern Gateway
Superintendent Eugene Miller and Living Waters Superintendent Carol
Lemay.

"We're making a commitment to zero tolerance -- meaning appropriate
action will be taken," stresses Pickard. "These things won't be
ignored."

Each agency is working in the best interest of the students and
society, says the staff sergeant.

School presentations will be done to explain the program to staff and
students. "It's not just a single initiative, it's a joint venture,"
says Pickard, as the RCMP, town, community justice and school boards
are committed to working together.

Safe School Zone is a pro-active policing project that was developed
to combat problems and issues that may stand to compromise the safety
of students.

The two main components of the program are education and enforcement.
Education will encourage children to speak out about inappropriate
behaviour, such as bullying, alcohol and drug abuse. This can be
achieved by maintaining educational programs like Drug Awareness
Resistance Education (DARE), Hands Are Not for Hitting and Bully
Resistance and Violence Education (BRAVE).

Enforcement will encourage students to utilize Student Crimestoppers,
and if necessary, school staff assuring anonymity which can result in
more reports.

A policy of taking action will be implemented and charges will be
laid where appropriate evidence exists.

In cases of where criminal charges aren't laid, the RCMP will be made
aware of developing concerns.

Occurrence reports will be kept on file at the school and the
detachment for tracking and research purposes.

With all agencies involved, Pickard says the program is also
developing and building on lines of communication.

He also adds when a violation is reported concerning this program,
each case will be dealt with separately, but he stresses, "each case
WILL be dealt with."