Pubdate: Wed, 22 Nov 2006
Source: Ridgefield Press, The (CT)
Copyright: 2006 Hersam Acorn Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/ridgefield.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4356
Author: Chipp Reid

DRUG PROBLEM: RIDGEFIELD OFFICIALS VOW TO BOOST BATTLE AGAINST DRUG USE

Accusations that drug dealing is "rampant" at Ridgefield High School 
are nothing new to school and town officials, who say they know the 
problem exists and is getting worse. However, Superintendent of 
Schools Kenneth Freeston said claims by parents that the district is 
trying to cover up the problems are simply not true.

"We've acknowledged there is a problem with alcohol and substance 
abuse for the past three years, publicly acknowledged this," Dr. 
Freeston said. "We've been working very closely with various town 
agencies to address the problem. But, I have to say Ridgefield is no 
different than other nearby towns or the rest of Fairfield County in 
this respect."

The parents of Joseph Lucisano, who died Nov. 14, claim the school 
district is not doing enough to curb drug dealing or use in the 
schools. Frank and Claudia Lucisano say their son, who committed 
suicide, would be alive if the district cracked down on the narcotics trade.

Privacy Act

Dr. Freeston would not comment on the specifics of Joseph Lucisano. 
However, he said one of the biggest misconceptions other parents may 
have is because they do not hear about disciplinary actions, they 
assume the schools are doing nothing.

"This is just not the case," Dr. Freeston said. "There is a firewall 
of federal privacy protection around students. We aren't allowed to 
release any information on student discipline, other than the number 
of total suspensions each year."

Federal law prevents the schools from releasiing personal information 
about students. Because of this, Dr. Freeston said, only the students 
and their families know about specific school punishment.

The superintendent also said it was up to the parents to mete out 
further punishment for alcohol or substance abuse. "All we can do is 
suspend the students involved," he said. "If the parents don't do 
anything in the home, we can't help that."

No Firm Answers

First Selectman Rudy Marconi, who formed the Ridgefield Coalition 
Against Substance Abuse, said preventing drug use among teens would 
always be problematic.

"None of us have an answer," he said. "I would hope it wouldn't come 
down to measures like searching every student, but we know we have a 
problem. Are we working aggressively on a solution? Yes, we are."

One of the biggest problems the schools face in disciplining drug 
users or drug dealers is the reaction of the parents. Dr. Freeston 
said many times parents of a suspended student will challenge that 
punishment with a lawyer.

"We have a zero tolerance policy that we diligently enforce," Dr. 
Freeston said. "But I would say in at least half of the cases, the 
parents do not take a position in support of the schools. There is a 
considerable conflict with some parents who will hire an attorney to 
dispute disciplinary issues."

Dr. Freeston said the use of lawyers in these cases can cause 
"confusion and put pressure on the students" who see their parents 
fighting the suspension. It sends a message, Dr. Freeston said, that 
the parents may tacitly condone the illegal behavior.

Mr. Marconi said the "not my child" knee-jerk reaction to discipline 
is something parents must avoid.

"Parents need to know just because their kids are honor students and 
playing two sports that everything isn't wonderful," Mr. Marconi 
said. "Parents have to be a part of their lives to the nth degree."

Drug Dog

One of the loudest criticisms of drug enforcement in the high school 
is the apparent refusal to use Zeus, the town's drug-sniffing dog. 
Dr. Freeston said he could not comment on whether the Board of 
Education set a policy of not using the dog in the high school.

"I can comment publicly on security measures in the schools," he 
said. "I can say there has been a dialogue" on Zeus's presence.

Mr. Marconi said if the Board of Education decided to vote on using 
the dog, "it would be in the school tomorrow." However, the first 
selectman also cautioned that other towns have run into major legal 
battles over the same thing.

The same is true of personal property in the schools. State statutes 
allow schools to search lockers and book bags. School officials, 
however, cannot conduct "pat-downs" of students nor can they search a 
student's car, even if it is parked on school grounds.

"If we want to search someone, we ask the student to empty his 
pockets," Dr. Freeston said. "We can go into lockers and book bags or 
backpacks, but that is the limit. If we want to search a car, we have 
to call the police."

Community Effort

The Ridgefield Police Department declined to comment on its policies 
on drug enforcement in the schools or on criticism parents and 
students leveled at the department. Police spokesman Capt. Stephen 
Brown said, "The most important thing we can do is express our deep 
sadness at the tragic loss of one of Ridgefield's youth."

Capt. Brown did respond to Lucisano family claims that the police set 
up a speed trap near their home to catch teenagers going to their 
Ridgecrest Drive house to pay their respects to Joseph.

"The speed trap on North Street was in response to complaints we 
received from a resident of North Street," Capt. Brown said. "That 
radar team is part of a unit that goes out one week a month to 
enforce traffic issues. It was also on Route 7. They went to North 
Street based on previous complaints."

While some parents openly scorn the town's efforts, Mr. Marconi and 
Dr. Freeston said police involvement in the anti-drug effort was 
critical, along with the help of the entire community.

"This isn't just the schools or the police," Mr. Marconi said. "We 
need to get the entire community involved, from schools to police to 
clergy to civic groups to the parents. We need to work together - 
aggressively work together - to come up with a solution if we are to 
have any success in battling substance and alcohol abuse."
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