"The community of Grosse Pointe South High School is committed to ensure that all Grosse Pointe South High School graduates demonstrate the knowledge, creativity and skills necessary to establish self-worth as independent, contributing members of society, prepared for life-long learning and success in a changing world."

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

It's Long Overdue

For several years now, we have been discussing the concept of bringing drug dogs into the school. It has been discussed in meetings with parents, among staff, and at the Board of Education level. Here at South, we have decided it's time to act.

Let me be clear, the major purpose is to serve as a deterrent to behavior that is illegal in the eyes of the court, let alone school officials. Our goal is not to "bust" students.

I hope we find nothing, and wish we didn't even see the need for such action. However, our instincts tell us otherwise. We have found several students this fall in possession of illegal substances. We also hear rumors, unfounded or not, of more students engaging in similar behavior.

I can't really tell you that use or abuse among students is on the upswing. Sometimes, we just stumble upon illegal substances or students that engage in illegal activities.

I have often said that here in Grosse Pointe we have a volatile mix--we have many affluent families living adjacent to a city where access to drugs is readily available. That is a bad combination, and puts our students in great danger.

At some point in the near future, we will undergo a search of the building and grounds with a cadre of officers and narcotics dogs. In all likelihood, there will be regular searches in the future.

Again, I hope we find nothing. But I also hope our students understand there is zero tolerance at our school.

1 comment:

Greg Bowens said...

Are there stats that go along with the "feeling" that drug use is up at South over previous years? I ask this because bringing in cops with dogs just doesn't seem to be inline with enhancing the learning environment.
And by the way, your comment that the reason drug and alcohol use is a greater concern at South because GP is near Detroit is just not cool and panders to sterotypes most of us let go of long ago. I am surprised that you would make such a comment.