Pubdate: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 Source: Index-Journal, The (SC) Copyright: 2006 The Index Journal. Contact: http://www.indexjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1853 Author: Leslie Draffin, Index-Journal intern Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) DARE OFFICERS, SEARCHES PART OF STRATEGY TO KEEP DRUGS OUT OF LOCAL SCHOOLS Random locker searches, DARE officers and drug dogs are helping to decrease the number of drug incidents in Greenwood and Abbeville county schools. "In my findings, I was happy to discover that the number of students who have been caught with drugs has decreased. The percentage dropped 38 percent from the 2004 to 2005 school year," District 50 Assistant Superintendent Robert McClinton said. "Then, there were 13 incidents where students were found with drugs; this past year, there were only eight incidents. When you look at 16 schools with 9,400 kids in total population and you only have eight incidents, it's pretty good, but we would love for it to be none." Cathy Stevenson, assistant superintendent of Abbeville County schools, also said drug incidents have decreased because of random searches and education provided by DARE officers. "We have never really had a problem with drug incidents in Abbeville County schools. We have just been very fortunate," Stevenson said. Even with random searches and DARE programs in place, Keith Mallon, a VIDOC agent with the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office, said he thinks parents are the key to keeping students away from drugs. "We stress to parents that communication is very important. The more you find out what your kids are doing, the better," he said. "Also, monitor their peer groups and make sure they are hanging out with good people." This year, high schools, middle schools, career centers and alternative schools in Greenwood and Abbeville will undergo random searches to locate drugs and weapons on campuses. "Resource officers plan to continue working to maintain the level of drug safety and awareness," Lt. Tara Scott, of the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office, said. "The school district has several means to do that. One is to request presence with the canine unit. Hopefully, this will act as a deterrent, if students are aware that random searches of vehicles and lockers are going on." "Students who are found with drugs on school campuses will be prosecuted just like they would if they were not on campus. If they are a juvenile they'll be turned over to juvenile services, and if they are 17 or above they can be treated like an adult," Scott said. "The Student's Rights and Responsibilities handbook requires all administrators to recommend students for expulsion if they are found with drugs on campus," McClinton explained. While dealing with drugs can be scary for many students, Stevenson says DARE officers in Abbeville County are teaching children about the dangers of drugs and what to do if they are offered illegal substances. In order to help students feel safe, Greenwood and Abbeville county schools have developed ways to report incidents anonymously. "The identity of a student who talks to a teacher, administrator or resource officer is always kept confidential," McClinton said. Despite having only eight incidents of drugs on campus last year, McClinton said he thinks the increased involvement from administrators, faculty, parents and the community could help the number of drug-related incidents in school decrease even more. "The emphasis and commitment of faculty and school administrators to place strong emphasis that it won't be tolerated and directly addressing situations has helped deter drugs," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake