Pubdate: Wed, 23 Feb 2005
Source: Kitimat Northern Sentinel (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Kitimat Northern Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.northernsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2136
Author: Jennifer Lang
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

DISTRICT TARGETS SMOKES, DRUGS AND CAMERA-PHONES

Say goodbye to the high school smoke pit. The Coast Mountains school 
district is poised to enact a sweeping new policy that will establish 
no-smoking zones around schools.

Those would extend from a minimum of 50 metres around school properties to 
as far as several blocks away, meaning scenes of teens huddled on public 
sidewalks as they puff away within sight of their school will become a 
thing of the past.

The proposed policy would also see a blanket ban on tobacco use that would 
extend to all school district property, buildings and vehicles. Earlier 
this month, school trustees gave first reading to three draft policies that 
will have a direct impact on student life.

Along with the smoking ban, students can also expect random locker searches 
conducted with drug-sniffing dogs, a process outlined in the district's 
draft policy on illegal drugs.

Currently, drug searches of students or their lockers must be justified on 
reasonable grounds. Under the proposed illegal drug policy, school lockers 
would be subject to random searches at any time.

Drug-sniffing dogs could also be brought in to conduct hallway sweeps and 
locker searches.

The district also wants to ban cellphones and other digital devices from 
locker rooms, washrooms and other places where they could be used to invade 
the privacy of other students.

Modern camera-phones - cellphones capable of taking photos - can now be 
slipped underneath a neighbouring bathroom stall in order to embarrass 
another student.

"This is the age we live in," board chair Lorrie Gowen said. "You have text 
messaging," she added. "When one class is sitting writing an exam, you can 
send a text message to a friend coming in the next block."

Students violating the policy would have their phones or pagers 
confiscated, and would only get them back after a meeting with their 
parents and school officials.

The three draft policies will return to the school board on March 11, after 
circulating among employee, school and parent groups.

Under the proposed policy on tobacco use, no student, employee, or visitor 
would be able to smoke on school district property, or in vehicles, or 
buildings.

Students caught violating the policy would be subject to a range of 
unspecified and progressive disciplinary measures, and anyone else could 
pay a $50 fine.

Recreational or community user groups could see their school use privileges 
revoked.

High school principals may be able to seek a variance on the 50-metre 
minimum for smoke free zones, but only in extraordinary circumstances such 
as student safety and after extensive consultations, the proposed policy says.

The district is also creating a new ad hoc committee on health.

"The idea is we've got a serious problem with obesity with our young 
people, we've got a serious problem with drugs and we've got a serious 
problem with smoking," Terrace trustee Hal Stedham said.

Policies on vandalism and healthy schools are also in the works.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom