Pubdate: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Kamloops This Week Contact: http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271 Author: Darshan Lindsay Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) DISTRICT LOOKING FOR CASH TO KEEP ITS COP When it comes to paying for an RCMP liaison officer in the schools, it appears School District 73 stands alone. Karl deBruijn, assistant superintendent for special education, said he's only aware of one other B.C. school district that pays for the full-time position, and it did so in mimicking SD 73's lead. Other school liaison officers in the province are generally paid for by the municipality within which they work. The position of Const. Connie Buckle, which comes at a cost of $108,000 annually, is currently being reviewed as part of the district's budgeting process. "It was really a trial program and the board was able to secure the funding for a couple of years," when the position started in 2004, said deBruijn. Budgets are tight, but he's hopeful money can be found. Feedback from students, parents and staff regarding Buckle's contribution to the schools has been positive, he said. A recent meeting with RCMP was also positive, deBruijn said, but there was no direct discussion around funding. The liaison officer was brought into being as part of the district's broader action plan against drugs and alcohol. The plan was a response to concern over rising student suspensions related to alcohol and drug use. "She's accomplished a lot in a short period of time," deBruijn said of the rapport Buckle has built with schools and, most significantly, with students. "Never in Kamloops have we had an RCMP officer dedicated to working with the schools." Rather, deBruijn said, there have been "well-intentioned" attempts of establishing a liaison program in the past which lacked consistency as officers were pulled away at times for various reasons. "Through no fault of anyone, it wasn't effective . . - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl