Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005
Source: Parkersburg News, The (WV)
Contact:  2005, The Parkersburg News
Website: http://www.newsandsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1648
Author: Michael Erb
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

WOOD COUNTY SCHOOLS CONCERNED ABOUT STUDENT DRUG USE

PARKERSBURG - Efforts are being stepped up to keep schools and students 
drug free. Ralph Board, principal of Parkersburg High School, said a few 
drug-related incidents have created concerns among parents and residents.

"There are always concerns," he said. "I would be accused of having my head 
in the sand if I said there weren't concerns about students using drugs."

Arrests on or around the PHS campus along with several lockdowns and drug 
sweeps of area schools this year have heightened fears about drug use by 
students.

"Do we have students who are using drugs? Absolutely," Board said. "Are we 
aware of certain situations? We are, and we are monitoring students as much 
as we can."

Parkersburg police Chief Bob Newell said most of those problems are located 
off school grounds.

"We don't necessarily have a problem at the school," he said. "Our concerns 
seem to be around the outskirts of the school grounds."

Newell said police patrol more around the school, especially during 
high-traffic times, such as before and after the school day and during lunch.

"We have stepped up our efforts in recent months," he said. "It is 
something we monitor all the time. We are constantly receiving information."

Board said there have been recent disciplinary actions with students coming 
to school under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but in nearly all of 
those cases the students did not have drugs in their possession nor were 
they using drugs on school grounds.

"Most of our students don't want that stuff on campus," he said.

Parkersburg High isn't the only school worried about drug use among students.

Tom Eschbacher, principal at Parkersburg South High School, said drugs are 
always an issue when dealing with teens.

"I do think that illegal drugs are a problem for teens," Eschbacher said. 
"I don't think they are a problem on campus."

Eschbacher said the county schools' drug policy, which requires those cited 
for drug use or intoxication to undergo a substance abuse evaluation, has 
helped determine which students are first-time offenders and which are 
habitual users.

"About 75 percent of the assessments come back saying no further action is 
needed," Eschbacher said. "About 25 percent come back saying the student 
needs further individual counseling or intervention."

All of Wood County Schools' high schools use health courses to teach 
alcohol and drug awareness, and prevention resource officers at PHS and 
PSHS often speak to classes about the dangers and legal ramifications of 
drug and alcohol use.

"We are looking at it from an education standpoint and as an intervention 
measure, and hopefully we have an impact with that," Eschbacher said. "I am 
not going to be naive and say there isn't a drug problem with teens in 
Parkersburg. If there is even one kid using drugs, it is a problem."

Board said he fears the actions of a few will ultimately reflect badly on 
all his students, the vast majority of which have nothing to do with drugs 
or alcohol.

"I certainly hope the community wont judge the school based on a few 
isolated incidents," he said, "but I also want the community to understand 
we are aware of these situations, that we constantly monitor these 
situations and we are always trying to find ways to better inform and 
protect our students from these elements."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom