HALSTEAD TACKLES DRUG CONCERNS

School Board Closes Lunch, Allows Random Dog Searches Of Vehicles, Lockers
Next Year

HALSTEAD - Facing survey results that showed marijuana and alcohol use in
the district was slightly higher than state averages, the Halstead/Bentley
school board Monday night voted to close school lunch and allow dogs to
randomly search vehicles and lockers next school year.

But Halstead High School Principal Gene Haydock said the idea to use dogs
from the nationwide program Interquest Detection Canines came long before
the 2001 results of the "Kansas Communities that Care Survey," which
questioned students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. "I don't know that we have a
huge need," Haydock said, "but it's an education program that provides
assurance."

The survey showed, among other things, that in the high school, 28 percent
of those questioned said they'd been drunk or high at least once at school
in the last year. Of all four grades, that percentage was 17.That compared
to a state average of 11 percent and a Harvey County total of 9.6 percent.

The district's percentage of alcohol and marijuana use - as well as the
students' ability to obtain alcohol or cigarettes - was also notably higher
than the state average, according to the survey numbers provided by the
district.

The results showed that the district had room for improvement, said USD 440
Superintendent Tom Bishard, but were only a small factor - if any - in
Monday night's board decisions.

"I would think probably any school district that felt their students were
under any risk level whatsoever would be concerned," Bishard said.

Haydock said the talks about bringing dogs in for unannounced searches of
the school and parking lot began a year ago.

The dogs will look for weapons, drugs and alcohol, and Haydock said the
animals are keen enough to track down an unopened can of beer inside a
locked car. The idea is that these searches will deter students from
bringing in illegal materials, rather than busting them after the fact, he
said.

Another preventative measure that the board hopes will increase safety and
decrease substance abuse during the school day also begins in the 2002-03
school year - students will no longer enjoy the open lunch they've had for
several years.

The board voted 6 to 1 to close lunch. Carol Denno voted against the motion.

Board president Steve Ratzlaff objected to continuing with an open lunch or
accepting alternative policies that would allow some seniors to leave
school for lunch, saying such moves would run contrary to efforts to
improve survey results.

"We are concerned about the numbers on that survey," he said, "yet we're
willing to open our lunch and let that happen . . . the two donit coincide."