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Education
After hearing from several concerned parents, students and teacher’s aids, and after recently hearing of Lancaster’s drug problem in the media, it was time for someone to appear before the School and Town Boards to question whether drug abuse was prevalent and whether there was a plan in place to combat and/or control it.
That someone just happened to be me! The following was the statement I made before the School Board Monday evening, the questions I asked and the responses given.
They were as follows:
Supervisor Robert Giza was quoted last week in the media stating: "I think we knew we had a drug problem, but we didn't know what degree it was."
Nonsense!
There has been a serious enough drug problem within the Lancaster School District that even many school, police and community members considered it long before now as being epidemic, at least they should have.
Recent media exposure and drug overdoses has created a community stir where parents and concerned citizens are talking amongst themselves asking what exactly does the School District and police do to combat and/or control the problem
Several of those concerned parents and residents informed me of their belief that little was being done by school and government authorities to properly address the issue. At the same time, they also acknowledge that many parents are as much as fault for not acting responsible in identifying and taking the necessary steps to work with police authorities and school administrators.
However, for the past several years, school administrators and police have been telling us that the problem is no more serious here than in other school districts, and that Lancaster just does a better job in reporting drug related issues.
Nonsense!
Behind closed doors police, school, community and professional health members tell us otherwise.
When bringing the degree of the drug problem to light last year, people like myself have been told that the drug problem was mostly related to prescription drugs.
Lancaster Police Department Captain Timothy Murphy was also quoted saying, "We had several overdoses dealing with some of these drugs - the fentinel patches, the oxycontins. We just recently had a real severe heroin overdose. Thankfully, they were able to bring the individual back. It was a 17 year old female."
The week before a student was taken to a hospital and successfully treated when he passed out in school from Ecstasy.
Drug use in Lancaster was there when my children went to school. Over the decades it has gotten to the point where it is totally out of control and it significantly and adversely impacts the well being of the entire community.
What is most disturbing is that most parents and other interested parties question what policy and procedures take place that appears to engender this problem, rather than suppress it.
Therefore, I would like to pose some questions individuals have asked me and which I am passing onto the board.
It is my understanding that police officers visit the school with dogs to conduct locker inspections looking for drugs. How many such visits occurred this past school year?
Superintendent Edward J. Myszka: To the best of my knowledge there were two at the High School and one at the Middle School. It’s a combination of police agencies from Western New York coming to our High School with canine dogs from the Sheriff’s Department.
Is the visit unexpected or is the school involved?
Superintendent Myszka: The school does play a part in it.
When drugs are found in a locker, does the search continue with a personal inspection?
Superintendent Myszka: To my knowledge there have been no drugs found in the past four to five years.
Chowaniec: No drugs found, is that correct?
Superintendent Myszka: Correct.
Is that individual’s name then put on a watch list and is the individual personally inspected when future police visits occur?
Superintendent Myszka: According to school policy, the School Resource Officer (SRO) would note it and he does have a list of suspected individuals.
Are the parents notified?
Superintendent Myszka: Yes, they are notified. The first protocol would be to notify the principal. The Superintendent’s office then sends a letter to the parents. Then there is a Superintendent’s hearing where the charges are brought up and we bring in law enforcement officers to testify at the hearing.
Does the student receive counseling or any form of punishment before being allowed back into class?
Superintendent Myszka: Yes, they do receive counseling, anywhere from going to the Renaissance House, to off campus suspension to a facility away from Lancaster High School for a period of time.
We stipulate at the Superintendent’s hearing that the individual show proof through a counselor that they have gone through a program before they are readmitted to Lancaster High School.
Board Member intercedes
At this point School Board vice-president Joseph Maciejewski interjected to advise Superintendent Myszka that if he were uncomfortable answering questions on this sensitive matter, he could defer this to the Council or the SRO officer.
“We are not putting our heads in the sand here,” declared Maciejewski. “We have not run and hid from this. We have set up a program, a confidential outlet for students, teachers, anyone that wants to contact the SRO officer with any of their concerns.”
Maciejewski continued: “To my knowledge, other than the one incident where a young man passed out in class, I don’t know whether it was drug related or not, the incidents that have been reported from neighbors and the police have taken place outside and off Lancaster Central District grounds.”
“It is my understanding that “they” are heading into the city of Buffalo to obtain the narcotics, Maciejewski stated.
Chowaniec: That’s your perception. I know several students who attend the high school and they tell me differently. They tell me of kids being “buzzed” in class and nothing is done about it. Good students should not be exposed to this environment.
Does the school ever expel repeated drug offenders?
Superintendent Myszka answered “yes”.
Chowaniec: That’s a good thing. The reason I am here asking these questions is because someone has to; because of the rumor and innuendo expressed by the public, the perception that the school doesn’t appear to care.
Maciejewski: Rumor and innuendo is not what we are dealing with here. We need specifics.
Chowaniec: People are not going to come forward because of the fear of intimidation.
Maciejewski: We got some hard names from people who met with the SRO officer to look into and investigate…which did lead into questioning some suspects. I am not going to let you stand here before the audience tonight and discuss rumor and innuendo. If you have some facts, I would be willing to sit down with you and the SRO officer.
Chowaniec: That would be like me asking you to supply the names of the individuals who came to you. You need to be more transparent.
Maciejewski: Look at our web site (Lancaster Central School District) that details what our proactive plan is.
Chowaniec:
School spending has increased by 21 percent over the past three years. Taxpayers are being told the spending is for the good of the children. The image the high school presents is not one that mirrors respect and discipline, as is evidenced by dress code, the bullying that takes place and the lack of respect for peer and school staff.
Dress code
Why is the dress code not enforced? It is my understanding that at the beginning of the school year there is a correspondence sent home that details what is acceptable.
Maciejewski: There is a policy administrators follow.
Chowaniec: When visiting the school several times this year, I found it obvious that no proper dress code was being followed.
There was a time when students went to school fearing the worse if they didn’t perform. Today it is students and school staff that fear students who don’t play by rules they know are not going to be enforced.
Lastly, it was stated in the media: “So with the help of the school and the town, they're fighting this problem as a team. Grant money allowed for a full-time school resource officer at the high school, and now the town is supporting the formation of a narcotics team in Lancaster, with two detectives dedicated to fighting this epidemic.”
That seems to be the answer for everything in this town. To throw more money at the problem, hire more people, instead of enforcing the policies and programs in place.
Maciejewski: The plan that the Lancaster Central School District is following, by our Superintendent, our school administrators who manage the schools on a day-to-day basis, the School Board, I fully support. We are making efforts to do this collaboration with the town. It is extremely beneficial to have an SRO officer. I don’t know what we would do if we did not have him there. He has built a confidence structure where several students can go to him. For those that do not feel comfortable going to him directly for fear of retribution from their peers now have a confidential avenue to do that. That is something new. We do have a program and will not sit here and let somebody tell us that we don’t!
Chowaniec: This is a wake up call. Let me remind you again that I am not speaking only for myself. Parents, students and others express like concerns and have similar questions. Do whatever it takes. If you are doing something right, make it public because behind closed doors everyone is questioning what is being done to combat and control the school drug problem.
Is it as bad as what is perceived? I don’t know! I’m telling you what the public perceives and the recognition Lancaster has received by the media as being one of three suburban schools that has a serious drug problem.
Comments
I don’t blame Maciejewski for taking umbrage at the use of the words “rumor” and “innuendo”. I would do the same if I were in his position. I used those terms because I was not personally there to witness what was told me.
On the other hand, the parents, students and others that did relate what was happening in the schools are credible individuals with such integrity that I would have to believe them.
Those who attended the School Board meeting heard:
* Only three locker inspections were made this year – two at the High School and one at the Middle School
* The school does play a part in the inspection
* Parents are notified when drug use is noted
* Suspensions and even expulsion punishments are handed out
* Counseling is provided and mandated before students are readmitted to school
* The school has a confidential program in place to combat and control drugs
* The School Board will not tolerate drug rumors and innuendo, rather wants names and facts
The program that Maciejewski speaks of has been around for several months now and the public has yet to realize concrete results. Parents, students and others believe drug abuse is a serious problem in the Lancaster Central School District that goes beyond the high school and into the lower grades.
Those reading this will form their own conclusions.
The town and school makes it a point to say, “its for the kids best interest”. That’s what this is all about. Supervisor Giza has told town board attendees on numerous occasions, “You see or hear something, say something.” Someone just did!
Unfortunately, others are not willing to do so for various reasons. The ball is now in their court!
After presenting my comments, I left the building to attend the Town Board meeting. It is my understanding that one young lady, a Lancaster senior at the high school, who did differ with the School Board responses, did speak out. How heartwarming is that?
NEXT: Combating drug abuse, Part II: The town has a plan
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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