Pubdate: Thu, 12 Mar 2009
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2009 El Paso Times
Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom
Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829
Author: Zahira Torres
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

YISD OKS DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS ON ITS CAMPUSES

EL PASO - Ysleta Independent School District trustees on Wednesday 
approved the use of drug-sniffing dogs at middle school and high 
school campuses as a way to deal with the escalating drug war in Juarez.

Officials said the drug war has forced drug cartels to recruit 
students from El Paso schools to get drugs moved in the U.S.

"They used to do it a lot at the Juarez nightclubs but because a lot 
of people are not going to Juarez anymore, they have focused a lot of 
attention in our schools," County Attorney Jose Rodriguez said.

The district will pay a private company $7,200 to perform unannounced 
visits to campuses as early as this school year.

J.R. Martinez, the chief of security for Ysleta, said the district is 
trying to be proactive in confronting the situation in Juarez.

"Our vigilance has increased, our security measures have been 
heightened, our training has been modified," Martinez said. "All 
those things are a result of what's going on in Juarez."

Rodriguez said that when school districts in El Paso employ tougher 
drug prevention policies, they help curb the consumption and traffic of drugs.

Last year, a Horizon High School graduate and a student pleaded 
guilty to recruiting students in a marijuana smuggling ring that 
transported drugs between Juarez and Oklahoma City.

The smuggling ring involved about 15 current and former students with 
ties to the school in 2007.

Trustee Liza Montelongo said that the growing drug violence in Juarez 
is not the reason she voted to bring drug-sniffing dogs to the campuses.

The district in recent years has lost focus on drug-free programs and 
board members are looking to increase efforts to keep children safe, 
Montelongo said.

"We are at a time where we need to do a little more to address any 
drug issues that might be in our campuses," she said.

Montelongo, however, said that the district has taken several steps 
to deal with the violence across the border.

She said the board requested extra security for schools along the 
border and asked administrators to seek funding from the Department 
of Homeland Security for security cameras at those campuses.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom