Pubdate: Wed, 28 May 2003
Source: Winchester Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Winchester Press
Contact:  http://www.winchesterpress.on.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2418
Author: Gerrit Bosma

NDDHS STUDENT FACES TRAFFICKING CHARGES

MAPLE RIDGE - North Dundas District High School principal Ted Kennedy's
voice boomed over the intercom. He announced a lockdown for the entire
school. Seconds later, three OPP K-9 units entered in a drug search of the
school, on the morning of Fri., May 23.

OPP martial law for one hour: as a result, one 17-year-old female is facing
serious charges.

A female student from Russell was charged with possession for the purposes
of trafficking, in connection with the seizure of a quantity of marijuana at
the school. She is scheduled to appear in court on July 8 in Morrisburg.

Winchester OPP constable Al Lummiss couldn't confirm the exact amount of
marijuana, but said it wasn't crucial in the trafficking charges. The charge
was made after small zip-locked packages of pot were found in the school
cafeteria, "which supports the purpose of trafficking," said Lummiss.

Lockers, classrooms and hallways were all areas identified by the school
administration as areas which could be and were searched by OPP K-9 units.
Lummiss said the passive canine was not on the scene, so individual students
were not searched. The May 23 lockdown was the second raid in the school in
the past four months.

"These operations are not something the OPP does on its own," Lummiss
explained. "The principal of the school makes the call. They decide what a
good solution is."

Lummiss said drugs do exist in school environments like NDDHS, but said it
is up to the school to request OPP assistance in enforcement.

Kennedy described the problem at the rural high school as an urgent matter
and said drug usage on school property is known to take place regularly.

"I wouldn't call it an epidemic, but it is a constant concern," Kennedy
said.

"We called the OPP enforcement in to send the message that drugs will not be
tolerated."

The students were locked down, which meant no movement within the school
outside each individual classroom they were in, from 10:30 to 11:30 am.
Kennedy said such a method is only used during extreme circumstances, which
might also include an intruder in the school.

Kennedy said use of drugs in the school is increasing, and as a result
action is necessary.

"The students are more blatant about their use of drugs," Kennedy said.
"Teachers who have been at the school a long time have said the use is more
obvious now than in the past."

Along with OPP enforcement, the school administration is also offering
counselling from the Eastern Ontario Health Unit for addiction. Kennedy said
both the student and parents of the female detained for drug trafficking
last week will be offered help.

An emerging perception is that more and more students inside the walls of
many rural schools like NDDHS have been in contact with marijuana. Kennedy
said staff realize it is there, but there is little they can do to act on it
without police assistance.

"We know it is here on a daily basis, but it is difficult to prove," Kennedy
said.

"Staff and administration are monitoring this situation very carefully. We
can use the support from OPP when needed to reinforce that drugs won't be
tolerated at school."
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MAP posted-by: Josh