Pubdate: Thu, 15 Feb 2007
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2007 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Author: Jason M. Rodriguez, The Sun News

SCHOOL BOARD TACKLES DRUG, VIOLENCE ISSUES

BOLIVIA, N.C. - Brunswick County schools superintendent Katie McGee 
has seen it all too often: Sixth-graders proudly declaring their 
abstinence from drugs in the school system's DARE program, only to 
have a report dropped on her desk that many have tried drugs by the 
seventh grade.

Drugs, smoking and campus security at Brunswick schools are on the 
radar of school board members, and the first two are scheduled to be 
addressed this Friday at a safe schools committee meeting.

"Violence in our schools must never be seen as commonplace," said 
board member James Hobbs. "It's even now becoming so commonplace 
[nationwide] that we're not even hearing about it anymore."

The school system has five walk-through metal detectors and six 
wands. Each of the high schools and middle schools have metal 
detectors, and they are also utilized at basketball and football games.

Though there have not been any instances of violence in Brunswick 
County Schools in which a weapon has been used, school officials are 
hoping to find grant funding or room in the budget to pay for an 
additional metal detector at each high school.

"We are fortunate to have a very proactive board," said Brunswick 
County schools spokesman Adam Henning. "The concern was sparked by 
national news stories where it seemed some of the tragedies could 
have been prevented or at least minimized had there been metal detectors."

Board member Charlie Miller, who is also a former deputy with the 
Brunswick County Sheriff's Office, said metal detectors aren't the 
only answer to preventing school violence. "Just because you have a 
metal detector doesn't mean you're not going to have violence in the 
schools," Miller said.

He said starting a campus Crime Stoppers program that allows students 
to report on others anonymously may help keep schools safe and also 
help alert school staff of drug users and smokers.

School officials will discuss options this Friday to curb student 
smoking in school restrooms.

"I think something needs to be done," board member Ray Gilbert said.

Steve Miley, director of operations for the school system, said 
security gates and adding more monitors in bathrooms are being 
considered to rein in the problem.

Security gates at bathroom doors would limit bathroom access while 
classes are in session.

The issue of randomly drug-testing students also will be discussed at 
Friday's meeting. The issue was recently brought up because of the 
increase in drug searches at schools.

"We need to be able to provide counseling and treatment for these 
students," board president Scott Milligan said. "We are seeing more 
and more of those prescription drugs and illegal drugs making the 
hallways of our schools. We're seeing more and more violations 
involving drugs in our schools.

"Personally, I want to send a message to our student body that we are 
not going to tolerate drug use in our schools. It is destroying our 
school system. I have no tolerance for this. It's getting to be out 
of control."

The message from Milligan is clear and was echoed at the recent 
retreat by many others. Miller said he would like to see a campus 
Crime Stoppers program at the middle school and high school levels 
and to institute random drug testing for students who participate in 
extracurricular activities.

Board member Ray Gilbert said he'd like the school system to adopt 
more strict rules on drug use.

"Maybe one of the things we need to take a look at is a one-strike 
rule," Gilbert said.

The reports of drugs may have increased, spokesman Henning said, 
because the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office has conducted more 
random drug sweeps of schools and their parking lots this year than 
in years past.

"Those sweeps have found isolated incidents of drugs in students' 
cars," Henning said. "I don't believe the rate of K-9 hits ... has 
gone up. Rather, more widespread and frequent sweeps has resulted in 
numerically more incidents of K-9 alerts on cars."

Brunswick schools have one full-time drug counselor that rotates 
between schools.

McGee said she is planning to request another counselor for next 
school year's budget.

If you go

What | Safe Schools Committee meeting, Brunswick County Schools

When | 9 a.m. Friday

Where | Brunswick Schools Central Office, 35 Referendum Drive, Bolivia, N.C.
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