Wednesday, February 11, 1981

The Herald and Hie Lantern

Page3

Extent of Drug Problem Found Unbelievable

By Lissy Frlli ERMA — A special meeting of the Board of Education of the Lowef Cape May Regional School distric was convened SAturday afternoon to discuss the problems of undesirable student conduct in the high school. Previously principal Alan Betfttie* caught the attention of many people when he made a public presentation regarding drugs, teenage pregnancies, and the growing problem of alcohol abuse, he had estimated between 30 and 75 per cent of students are involved with these problems. SATURDAY’S MEETING began with Ephraimf. Keller, the superintendant. reading of Mr. Beattie's report for the board members who werenf familiar with the reasons for the meeting. When Keller read the enormous per contages of student involvement, the majority of the School Borad members expressed disbelief. ‘I find it hard to believe that Mr. Beattie would make such a statement.’’ said Paul Lundholm, The princiffal wasn’t at the meeting. MEMBERS QUESTIONED the accuracy of the 50-75 per cent, and they debated as to how the figure ought to be interpreted. Arthur Craig expressed concern about the problem "if in fact thOre really is ohe," and was willing to guess that the problem is less serious in this area than in other places. "The 50 per cent could just be ex^ perimenters, not necessarily problematic habitual users," he said. Keller flatly declared it is erroneous for anyone to believe Mr. Beattie's statement. But when asked by School Board president. Robert Bonner if he had investigated the matter, Keller declined, answering that there is no data to back up the principal's statement since a survey has never been taken, -v MR. BONNER THEN asked a more direct question: "Is there a cover-up going Regional Budget Tax Shares Set

on — do we have a serious drug problem in our school?" "Define 'a drug problem ." was the superintendent’s response. A sporadic unorganized discussion followed where vague definition of a drug problem ranged from experimentation with marijuana to addiction to heroin. NO ONE APPEARED willing to believe the 50-75 per cent degree of involvement, although most every board member precluded his statements with remarks like “maybe I am ignorant or unaware, but.,." They all agredcommunity concern generated by the broadcasting of these percentage figures on the news over radio station WWOC required an explanation Keller felt that the source of the problem was a misunderstanding cmised by the reporter's taking statements out of context. "Yes. there are conduct problems, but no. It is not something oul of control." he said. " ARTHUR CRAUG figured the story was fabricated and blbwruip by the news' "We have a good school, let's clear up our image with an apology from Mr. Beattie" None of the members had heard the newscast. Stephen Todd suggested. "Maybe we can get government studies and compare ourselves by taking a poll of the students, and maybe get other schools involved," then he addeff "Personally. I don’t believe the situation is so bad." , KELLER AGREED THAT a survey of the students' drug habits would be very informative, so the Board discussed methods of testing.

ERMA — Lower Township will have a bigger share, Cape May City a smaller percentage and West Cape May about the same proportion of the overall tax levy in support of the 1981-82 Lower Cape May Regional school district budget. While the actual dollar amount of the tax levy figures wasn’t available, the percentage of the shares each of the three constituent districts will have was released last week by school district secretary Jane Turkington. THE TOWNSHIP’S tax share of the forthcoming biKdget will be 67.8 per cent, while Cape May City’s share will be 27.5 per cent; West Cape May’s 4.75 per cent. The percentage of tax apportionment of the current budget is 62.4 per cent for

the township, 33.4 per cent for the city. 4.21 per cent for the borough. THE PROPOSED school district budget stands at $4.9 million and includes funding for the Lower Cape May Regional high school and Richar3 M. Teitelman junior high. In addition to the three constituent districts, the Borough of Cape May Point is another area from which students come, but as a sending district which is billed on a per pupil tuition \>asis. The tax apportionment percentages are determined by a formula taking into account the percentage of Regional, students in relation to overall students in a .Thunicipality and that taxing district's county tax equalization ratio ( the percentage of true to assesed valuation).

Emergency Animal Aid

* RIO GRANDE The county Animal Welfare Society now has an emergency vehicle to provide transportation for the disabled and those without other means of taking their pets to a'Veterinarian for emergency medical treatment. The .society will furnish

transportation for owner and pet to ,the nearest veterinarian in the area and their return home. THE SERVICE can be obtained by calling the society at 465-4563. The society also conducts a low cost neutering and spaying program for the pets of low income owners.

NOTICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS

Th« tale on itemt fitted in the circular in today r paper began on Tuetday. Thut certain itemt may be told out. Should thit occur, pleote go to our tervice detk at the front of the ttore and requett a roincheck, Thank You.

Mr. Lundholm thought that alcohol ought to be included in the survey since he felt drinking ma>*be an even greater problems than drugs. One board member backed him up by saying that often you can’t drive through the school parking lot without hitting beer and whiskey bottles. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY no discussion of teen pregnancies Referring to Mr Beattie’s statement that ther^^Vc* more abortions that births. Mr. CraigtHjni mented that he "hoped that was a guess, too." With the exception of Mr Bonner and F S. Douglass, school board members were hesitant to accept that problems exist. TWELVE PARENTS on hand for the meeting seemed willing to*'accept that a problem may exit Like Mr Douglass, they believed that percentages and definitions weren’t the cruk of the issue at hand: "Whether it is 1 or 50 per cent. wt> have a problem and we must get it stopped .A ' survey is nice, but it u ill contain statistics, not answers." Among the parents were at least three members from two other boards of education in the area. There was a general feeling that stricter enforcement was a necessary measure to be taken by the School Board as well as within the school itself. SEVERAL URGED THE board to become firmer with cohesive decisions and asked that they try»to avoid petty bickering with the superintendant. "We elected you to set policies," one man said, "and it is the responsibility of the superintendant to carry them out. If he

is not doing his job, then you must get rid of him." Another parent openly admitted that he was sure that a great problem does exist and that he field the school board should believe so, too ONE SOLUTION OFFERED vvas a return to restricting students' freedojli to roam about the grounds while school is in session "when I was in school, we were busy being taught, never having the time to waltz about in a daze." one woman said "This is l school, not a prisop. ' the superintendent responded, and the kids have to walk outside to certain classes " "To what class are the students headed . for when traveling north and south on the railroad tracks'’" Bonner rejoined Keller's explanation of the parking dot glass, was that it's created by older people attending nightime sporting events AS THE MEETING came to a close. Keller concluded: "Don't leave here think mg that many things aren't being done and suspensions ore the first evidence We must lx* careful now not to impinge on student rights ih the past 10 yers. many changes in education approach have occurred People trying to do the right thing are in troubje. So far, we have had no difficulty.' and we wish we were able to do more; however, suspecting and knowing are two different things." There have been 10 suspensions for drug related activity and none for consumption of alcohol during the present school year. The last suspension for being undtfr the in- a fluence of alcohol was 1 case in 1979

Whylkissed

and joined the Marines.

Clnorgb was such a beautiful money machine And only one hank had him. That's why I hanked there. ; Ho was so new. He had such giQal promise. But I found out I could never really depend on his Guarantee. , I low could he do this to me? He dropped every checking auounr except VO W And even though I like \ () \\ . it U as‘still- nice tokhow 1 < oujil get regular checking theroUio Not unyftmrc Then hi*ni>|nina!ed -••uiui citizen ' act mints ’ o fop it all off. he irhnrgrd me more' when hank personnel handled nn . ’ t transaction than when he did! Mv George I'd had it That's when I decided to join flic Marines. Thev've still got ail the great services I used to love George lor Ghet.kiiig with interest ond regular checking. Senior GitizPn au mints \'o i harges for holding, mv

ntoflev. And a lieaullfiil way. with people. Yes. prpp/e. ; That's my story I joined opand.il paid off. Wouldn't you know it? I hai(,to learn a lesson before I learned to depend on the Marines Depend on the Marines

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