From the BCCT.
Canine team to seek out drugs
By JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
The Bensalem school board has hired a canine search company to help find prescription drugs that students bring to school without permission.
The searches are needed because the medications could be misused as stimulants or depressants, said Superintendent James Lombardo on Monday night after the board approved the random searches.
The Partnership for a Drug Free America's annual tracking study suggests prescription drug abuse among teens and young adults is a serious problem in the United States.
The recently released study found that one in five teens has abused a prescription pain medication, one in five reported abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers and one in 10 teens has abused cough medication.
Hiring Interquest Detection Canines of Eastern Pennsylvania is part of the district's ongoing effort to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for its students, Lombardo said.
Bensalem is among several area school districts to enlist Interquest searches in its anti-drug enforcement efforts. Centennial, Central Bucks and Council Rock also have utilized the firm in the last several years.
“We want to make sure the schools are as safe as they can be,” the Bensalem superintendent said after the school board agreed to hire the firm at a cost of $215 per three-hour search.
District officials will decide when and where the searches take place, Lombardo said.
They began considering the searches in the spring after dealing with a couple of cases where students brought prescription medications to school.
Lombardo would not say what medications were brought in or identify the schools where the incidents took place.
Students who are prescribed medication are supposed to bring it to the school nurse, Lombardo said. Students who bring medications to school without going through proper channels face suspension. If they bring the prescriptions to school to give to other students, they face expulsion, he said.
The agreement with Interquest runs through June.
Friday, December 5, 2008
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1 comment:
Morrisville's board hired the same drug sniffin' doggy company earlier this year. And it looks like the Morrisville drug sniffin' doggy search was $100, vs. $215 for Bensalem, maybe because Bensalem has more square footage, lockers, and nooks & crannies to sniff.
From the April 23 board meeting minutes:
5.1. Agreement with Interquest Detection Canines of Eastern PA
The Board approved a motion to approve the agreement with Interquest Detection Canines of
Eastern PA.
Moved by Mrs. Reithmeyer; seconded by Mr. Kemp; passed by a unanimous voice vote of 7 ayes.
Mrs. Mihok voiced concerns that this service was utilized last week without a contract approval. Dr. Yonson explained that this contract is for 2008-2009. Last week’s exercise was $100 and covered in the budget. Because of the sensitivity of this exercise only two people will be pre-informed. Afterward, it was broadcast on the website and the TV. In the future this information will be included in the Friday packet to the board.
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