Drugs top NPA agenda
By Jesse Phelps

The main topics at the Nordhoff Parent Association meeting Monday night were building construction and self-destruction. Plans covered the tables of the proposed new buildings to be raised on campus and plans covered the pages handed to parents regarding ways to attack Ojai's youth drug problems.
The first hour and a half of the meeting was dedicated to follow-up from the NPA's earlier gathering regarding the drug issue. NPA President John Kenyon mentioned that tragedy has struck again in the valley and that the problems aren't going away.
Though the auditorium was about half full, a substantial decrease from the full house in December, "I'm pleased with the turnout," Kenyon said. "The second meeting is never as full as the first meeting."
Ojai Mayor Joe DeVito and Councilwoman Rae Hanstad attended, as did Dr. Bruce Gladstone, who detailed the current efforts of the Ojai Valley Substance Abuse Project. The project plans to host a series of 12 monthly classes in the coming year, the first of which takes place Thursday night at Chaparral High School in room five at 7 p.m.
Shareen Torres, MSW, CADC II, of the Gladstone Counseling Center, will talk on causes, effects, treatment and prevention of substance abuse at the first talk. The second talk, scheduled for February, will address marijuana.
Hanstad offered the city's continuing help in addressing the problem of drug abuse, particularly through the acquisition of grant money and by partnering with law enforcement and young people through the youth commission. She said a town meeting is in the works for spring of 2003.
Kenyon took time to detail six recommendations the NPA has made toward attacking the problem of drugs and youth and he and other speakers provided updates on the progress being made toward meeting them.
First, Nordhoff has hired an on-site counselor five hours a day "for emergencies" but he already has a waiting list due to overwhelming student demand. Plans are in the works to increase availability of counseling at both Nordhoff and Matilija Junior High School.
At the last meeting, Nordhoff students and other championed the idea of voluntary drug testing and it seems that the school board, teachers and parents listened. Following the lead of other California high schools, Nordhoff will be instituting testing on a volunteer basis. Parents and kids volunteer and are tested randomly at intervals throughout the year. The cost is about $25 per student and money is still being raised for the program.
The NPA recommended also that "punishment have a constructive outcome" when kids are caught with drugs or under the influence. Rather than suspending students, the NPA recommended the schools send offenders to 12 step meetings, holding facilities (drug tanks), meetings with family and school officials, and places where they could perform community service.
Kenyon stressed that the Nordhoff Parent Association felt it was important not to send kids already struggling "further down the hole" but that it was also important to get the message across in a clear and decisive manner. A first-time offender, he said, shouldn't be denied an opportunity to get into a college of choice because of a single mistake in high school.
Gladstone pointed out that there is a difference between dependent kids and those merely experimenting, but warned that it can be very difficult to tell when a child has reached the more extreme stages.
Another NPA recommendation, a full-time substance abuse program in schools, is in the works under the guiding hands of Greg Stafford and Ojai Teacher of the Year Denise Thomas. Plans are in the works to replace the defunct D.A.R.E. program with a series of 10 drug awareness sessions for all sixth grade classrooms in the valley. Fifth graders will also get sessions and plans are in the works to include fourth graders as well.
The last two recommendations, a student organization to monitor drug use and OUSD in-services for teachers and staff, are still in the concept stage. Apparently, student interest is strong for the former and care would be taken to avoid the idea that it's a spy program, as nothing would be reported to police or outside agencies.
Speakers stressed the importance of the final recommendation because, though counselors are trained to detect red flags and warning signs, many teachers still need education in this area.
Kenyon expressed his joy that the community is taking action on the parent association recommendations and Ojai Unified School District Superintendent Jim Berube urged the gathered throng to attend this week's board meeting, which would include further review of the ideas. "Almost every one of these (recommendations) in one form or other is going to be implemented so I'm very happy about that," Kenyon said.

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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