Pubdate: Wed, 17 May 2006
Source: Journal Review (IN)
Copyright: 2006 The Journal Review
Contact: http://www.journalreview.com/FormLayout.asp?formcall=1
Website: http://www.journalreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3548
Author: Doug Hunt, Education Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

FROM INSTRUCTORS TO INMATES

NEW MARKET -- A jail cell used for carnivals at New  Market Elementary
was dusted off and placed in the  school's main lobby. The cell will
be the temporary  home for two South Montgomery employees.

New Market Principal Judy Brewer and guidance counselor  Sara
Fitzgerald gave children a preview Tuesday morning  of the cell they
will stay in Friday. Each will take  turns and spend half of the
school day, about three and  a half hours each, inside the cell.

The fund-raiser coincides with the first Montgomery  County Jail
Lock-Down in the new jail facility, 1010  Whitlock Ave.,
Crawfordsville. The new jail event is  scheduled for Friday through
Saturday.

Both Brewer and Fitzgerald plan to participate in the  new jail
lock-down. Bail money, which will be used for  A.H.E.A.D. Coalition
anti-drug programs, will be $150  for both of them.

"We decided to come up with something fun for the  students,"
Fitzgerald said. "We challenged the students  that if they raised $200
we would stay in the school  jail cell."

The school cell was brought out of mothballs and placed  in the lobby.
A cot, milk crates, a tree, family  pictures and Rocko the school
mascot icon were placed  into the cell to give the environment a
warmer  atmosphere.

Custodian Gary Fruits put two green-colored collection  buckets in
front on the cell. One bucket has the sign  for people to keep Brewer
and Fitzgerald in jail and  the other has one for them to get out of
the cell.

"So far, there is more money for us to stay in jail,"  Fitzgerald said
and laughed

The children enjoyed seeing the women in the cell when  pupils began
arriving Tuesday morning for classes,  Fitzgerald said. The new jail
lock-down is a good cause  and goes toward anti-drug programs for the
A.H.E.A.D.  Coalition, she said.

"The jail cell at the school has been a great way to  include students
and staff for a good cause,"  Fitzgerald said. "Officer (Ron) Newlin
was here for the  D.A.R.E. program and gave us real jail clothes to
use."

Newlin is first sergeant with the Montgomery County
Police.

Kelly Trusty, A.H.E.A.D. coalition executive director,  said the new
jail lock-down experience will give people  a chance to take a stand
against substance abuse, learn  drug prevention skills and receive an
education of what  12 hours inside the jail is like.

Methamphetamine and alcohol abuse represent the largest  jail
population percentages, Trusty said.

The new jail lock-down is from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m.  Saturday.

While Brewer serves time in the school jail she  receives several of
the same requests from teachers.

"The teachers have asked if I would grade their papers  while I was in
jail," Brewer said and smiled.
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