Pubdate: Wed, 09 Feb 2005
Source: Advocate-Messenger, The (KY)
Copyright: 2005 The Advocate-Messenger
Contact:  http://www.amnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1253
Author: Bobbie Curd, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DRUG DOG VISITS GARRARD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

LANCASTER - Marijuana was found Tuesday night at the Garrard County
Board of Education meeting, but it was all according to plan.

Deputy Sheriff Dave Amon was on hand with his partner, Sarge, a black
lab who has gone through various drug detection training. Amon had
brought marijuana with him to hide in the school cafeteria, and the
board members and guests looked on as the dog found the first hiding
place in about five seconds.

Amon spoke about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and high
school seniors' involvement in the project.

"I am always looking for other high school students that can be
excellent role models and help speak to younger kids about the dangers
of drugs," Amon said in a speech before putting Sarge to work for the
crowd.

Amon said he and Sarge have not had a lot of success finding drugs in
Garrard County Schools, which he admitted is a good thing.

"But we have had an increase in prescription pills among students,"
Amon said, and there have been several cases where students were found
selling them and charged with the offense.

Students' cars are subject to search on school property

Amon proposed that the board send home letters to students' parents
informing them that their children's cars are subject to search when
they are on school property and requesting their signatures as
acknowledgment. It is one of the many ways the deputy says the
department plans to get tougher on drug offenses.

"I've suggested this to the board and want to talk to the county
attorney about this so we can get it into place to help prevent drugs
on school grounds," Amon said.

Amon feels that getting tough on drugs is important due to the fact
that more and more students are "keeping drugs on or in their person
as opposed to within their lockers or cars."

Karen Anderson, the Youth Services coordinator for the middle and high
schools, presented a plan developed for high school students that has
been based loosely on the reality television show "The Biggest Loser."

"We will divide students into teams, weigh them in weekly and have
prizes for the teams that have lost the most weight," Anderson said.
Before the children join the program, a letter would be sent home to
their parents introducing the project as a way to increase health
awareness among students.

"We plan to do a test on each one to determine their BMI (Body Mass
Index), and I want to stress that this will not be for size 1 girls
who want to lose weight before prom. This will be to promote a healthy
lifestyle and inform kids about a more healthy way to live and eat."

Board member Joe Brown commented on how timely the project plan is
with the most current legislation that is close to being passed to
require schools to offer more healthy alternatives to snacks and
eliminate fatty snacks and sodas from school vending machines.

"I think we need to voluntarily get into this habit before we are
forced to do it. Nutrition is something that we need to teach in
school, too," he said.

Four students recognized

The school board acknowledged four outstanding students Tuesday night.
All received certificates of appreciation.

Garrard County High School senior Will Stevens was recognized for
being a National Merit Scholarship finalist, a highly recognized
competition where only 3.8 percent of applicants are awarded.

High school students Dustin Foust, Bobby Cassady and Stuart
Bridgewater were recognized for work with the school's Student
Technology Leadership Program, which focuses on technology-based
education and training.

Foust has excelled in teacher training with the Class Performance
System, Cassady has completed work on the school's Web page, and
Bridgewater has contributed to Web page development, computer repair
and virus protection.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin