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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 29, 1983)
Page 6CAThe Battalion/Monday, August 29,1983 Drug-sniffing dogs to return to CS by Rusty Roberts were reported although there tht Battalion Reporter Telly, the drug-sniffing black labrador, will be going back to school in College Station this fall, but some changes will be made in the district’s approach to the drug and alcohol problem. Just what the changes will be have not been decided yet. There seems to be general agreement that the anti-drug program should do more than just drive drugs off campus, and that appears to be what Telly did last year. For example, a student at College Hills Elementary School last year served two weeks in school suspension for possession of marijuana. At Oakwood Middle School, two cases involving the posses sion of alcohol were reported, while only one incident was re ported at A&M Consolidated Junior High. On each occasion, the students involved served 10 days off-campus suspension and 10 days in-school suspension. At A&M Consolidated High School, however, no suspen sions for drug or alcohol use were nine referrals to the nurse during the fall semester and one during the spring semester. Through the referral system, teachers send disruptive stu dents to the nurse who deter mines whether they are under the influence of drugs or alco hol. However, board members said, referring students directly to the nurse makes teachers appear to be accusing them of drug or alcohol use. Bruce Robeck, president of the board, said he is proposing a new referral system in which teachers make referrals directly to counselors. He said he hopes the system would take the teacher out of a police role. Joe Templeton, secretary of the board, said he will go a step further with the new referral system by proposing the counse lor be a psychologist. Students’ behavior patterns would be understood better by a psycho logist rather than a vocational counselor, he said. “We’re treating the symp toms and not the cause,” Tem pleton said. “We need to begin understanding why the kids mess with drugs in the first place.” ~ , The entire board seems to support a program that would treat symptoms as well as keep drugs and alcohol off the cam pus. But, the board said, it is dif ficult to choose a specific prog ram that can do both. Trustee Chuck Giammorta said the sniffer-dog not only moves drugs” 6ff campus, but also teaches students about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. “Kids don’t even carry the stuff on them any more. They know how well the dogs can sniff out the stuff ” “It’s amazing,” he said. “The dog actually tells the kids not to use drugs. His trainer will write on the board, ‘Kids who use drugs are stupid.’ Telly reads it to the students by barking out the syllables. The kids get the massage and enjoy Telly at the same time. The sniffer-dog service is provided by Securities Associ ates International Ipcated in Waco. Telly is one of two dogs used in the College Station schools, ftoth dogs are autho rized to search the hallways, the gymnasium and any car in the school parking lot. But, the dogs are not allowed to sniff for drugs or alcohol on individual stu dents. “Kids don’t eVen carry the stuff on them anymore,” Giam- mona said. “They know how well the dogs can sniff out the stuff. The kids just don’t want to get caught.” But Trustee Deanna Wor- muth said she doesn’t like the idea of scafe tactics. She said she would rather see the students re spond to professional counse lors instead of drug-sniffing dogs. Wornrttith was the only board member who voted against us ing the dogs next year. They are a short-term solution to a long term problem, she said. “Right flow we’re using a Band-Aid approach,” she said. “We’ll continue to spend the same amount of money each year on a dog that simply keeps the drugs off campus rather than spending it for programs to teach students the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.” The school spent a total of $6,000 of the earmarked $10,000 last year on drug pre vention. The dog worked a total of 235 hours at $26 pier hour. Wormuth said she knows the dog produces immediate re sults, but said the cause of the problem still hasn’t been solved. In order to educate students ab out drug and alcohol abuse, Wormuth said, an organized long-term counseling program needs to be established. Such a program would pro vide more drug and alcohol edu cation in health clases and more personal counseling for stu dents, she said. The program should be developed first in grades six through eight, she said, because students are most receptive at that age. She said the program would take the place of the dogs. However, Templeton said it is not good judgment to stop us ing the dogs simply because they haven’t eliminated the cause of the problem. Some results are better than none at all, he said. Other board members also said they plan to support con tinued use of the dog because of the immediate results if offers. Giammona said a new prog ram using the county’s dog will make the results next year even more impressive than those last year sniffer-dog programis erally favorable. Elemeii: school children are more of the dog than the junior ii students are. One elemei student said he liked Tel much that he wanted himtoi everyday. Another studem that twice a week would But Trustee Deanna Wormuth said she would rather see the students respond to professional counselors instead of drug-sniffing dogs. year. The dog will be used to landle student drug problems that occur on streets bordering the school. The new off—campus drug prevention system was approved at a board meeting last month. If all things go well, the board said the program could take effect this school year. However, no action was taken to use the county dog’s services on campus. Student reaction to the first- plenty. However, not even 1 knows when he will visil schools. He and his trainersi Iv arrive and begin seardt That type of schedule keep dents, faculty and admim tors always alert. EvenSu] tendent H.R. Burnett know when the visits are duled. The dogs return pern to each school based on ilit| tensity of the problem at school. For example, the:J make more visits to where drug and alcohol pn lems are more frequent! visits may occur on twocor* tive days or up to five n apart. Even with the unpredie schedule, students in died lege Station schools can ei|t to be seeing Telly year. Colie by Eric CSISD builds new elementary renovates A&M High School by Rose Delano ^otisdlidated High Battalion Reporter The College Station Indepen dent School District has added a new elementary school and is completing renovations on A&M Cc School. Mike Owens, director of cur riculum and instruction, said Southwood jElemetitary will open on schedule for the 1983- 84 schobl year and enroll stu dents front ; v kindergarten through fifth grades. The new building, located at Brothers Boulevard arid DehCon Street in Southwood Valley, is estimated to cost $4.4 million. Billy Eitel will be the school’s principal. Students who live iri the gen eral area south of Holleman Drive, east of Wellborn Road, west of Welsh Street, south of FM 2818 and west of Texas 6 will attend Southwood Elemen tary. ; , / f South Knoll and College Hills elementaries now will have kin dergarten through fifth grades, so fifth gradefs will remain at the elementary school they attended last year unless they are in the new Southwood dis trict. Oakwood Middle School, previously only the fifth and sixth grades, will now have only sixth grade students. Owens said that a new gym nasium, cafeteria, science wing, fine arts center and additional classrooms are being added to A&M Consolidated High School. When school starts on Aug. There have been some per sonnel changes in the district over the summer. Ned Burns, director of personnel for CISD, resigned Aug. 12. Burns accepted a position as assistant Battalior [though th city has bet mer montl Je of Texas iltwin cities h ■don and ir ■ The Hiltoi Otcl chains am illy to build 1 tfion. The lo< has not superintendent of the Joshua year’s 4,500 students. ing the flow of Burnett said in a recomitt— tion to the school board. Bouuced. bu jbuilt within Owens said he pre: ferds of the 5 minimal increase in enrolkpecenter — t of about 2 percent oveij When school starts on Aug. 31, construction will be complete on all facilities at A&M Con solidated High School except the fine arts cen ter and cafeteria. 31, construction will be com plete on all facilities except the fine arts ceriter and cafeteria, which will be finished in late September or early October, he said. In addition to improving faci lities, Owens said, the district is also expanding programs. He said that a computer literacy sec tion will be open in the fall and that if money is available to buy more computers, more sections will be added. Independent School District, which is located south of Fort Worth. George Losack has been named interim head football coach. He will take the place of A&M Consolidated High School Football Coach Howell Fer guson. Ferguson was suspended by trustees in July for depositing district funds into an unautho rized bank account. After the suspension, however, it was disc overed the irregularity was not in violation of state laws. “Like all schools, wen know until they showi said. Bryan H| to get po Bversity Dri |the confen [in in Septei The winery he to the are ligo family h [eina vineyt le, to be nan llbe manufai by Brigette Crosslanl 1 t Battalion Reporter ft F1 I The Bryan Indefriltl J.A The drug-sniffing dog prog- S( £ 001 District will haves I n is working well, Superinten- Editions this year. Work I — — ■ . ~. r>r/-kfT»'occ rvn a new SW |g B dent H. R. Burnett said. The P ro 8 res s on a dogs, provided by Security Asso- P 00 t a t Bryan High Schoofl by Anne A ciation International, have been ac ^ 1 . tl ° n 10 Anson W in the College Station schools being planned Battalio since the beginning of the 1982- BISD and the city ofti Texas A&M 83 school yer. The dogs sn iff h /»ve pooled their fundsto* lockers and cars for drugs. t le P ew swimming per _ , “The administration believes 1 , c 11 a J 1 d schoo 1 distnci wn, says th that due to incident reports and P e< ^ ec * f 01 " input from campus personnel, grant of $250,000 froi these services have proven be . . neficial to the district in reduc- t,OI L, 1 . n A ustin - The new swimmim Department of Outdoor^ iversity-orie yor Gary H be located behind the I High stadium. A $1.2 million addition the planning stage for Although adominan ny and th isn’t have as liege Statioi Anson Jones seventh f rs ago, Hal school. Architects are woil on the plans, and construction was schedule ss to the gr< begin in August. Changes in curriculum quirements made t •the state of Texas w LOOKING FOR A CONDO FOR YOUR STAY AT TEXAS A&M? ruitmg new The Condo Mart is the newest way to find the right condominium for you. Select from hundreds of condos on the market today in Just one stop. Green & Browne Realty has sold more condominiums than anyone in the area. Since we don’t own the condos offered, we Oan show you the condominium th art’s right for you. much of an effect on High School. Currently fCity Manag state requires a student to' 18 credits to graduate fc' number is increasing to2 (l year. Bryan High School al [l requires 20 butisconsiderif! creasing that number. The state now requires years of English to is increasing the requirei four years. Bryan Big already requires four. One curriculum requirt ‘We are be However, liege Statior of student Therefor xas A&M s 'e Station’s ees. There ha iwth of the rdell says. “ ere was no bw we hav xas Instrun ds Control No high pressure salesman, Just hundreds of condos to select from ... all in one stop at The Condo Mart. For solos Information, contact 846-5701 209 Edit University Drive College Station, Texas 77840 Mt, GREEN & vtp BROWNE students is an increase math requirement fr years of math to three. BISD Superintend^ Wesley K. Summers saidjf lege-bound students years of math, but tli { three-year requirement cause problems for votf students The new requirements* effective only for student' already in high school. 1 already in high school accountable for the old tel' merits. Another change exp^ BISD is a reduction ment. During the past years, enrollment has intf* an average of 500 stud* 1 year “We feel we’ve been red tiinate in Bryan because j growth,” Summers said. 1 are many school throughout the state de< However, Summers welcome a reduction in £( ment growth. “We would be less# est if we said we wouldn come a leveling off so wouldn’t be faced withad £ al building all the time, mers said. ! di? only < er faculty in offer a 1; htinuing ei increase that will effect^ istrialemplc "If you adc Stayin piece c UTMB Scienc activel with T< P r omo beii jemgt C1 tizen School Health halves jpadua 2,000 t