School Drug Education Project Okd

Authorization for partial support of a program in drug education was approved by the Board of Education last night. The allocation for the program, to be conducted with Behavior C h a n g e Laboratories, was for $6,500 with the remainder of a $25,000 budget to be obtained from state sources. Several persons, however, including Trustee Duane Renken, were not in favor of the proposal. "I can't support this because it doesn't encompass a complete thinking. We are jumping into a program that will benefit only a few children and I feel this board should wait and fit this proposal into the entire drug education program," said Renken, who cast the only negative vote. Some 80 persons, crowded into a Dixboro School classroom, heard Renken tell the board and administration the drug 'program should be integrated into the school's complete budget for drug leducation. "We have a tight budget 'and let's get the most out of it to benefit the most children," Renken said, "and this could be done by spending a little more time [to lay out the entire program." i Commenting from the audience, Mrs. Ellen Johnson asked the board to take more time to review the drug report submitted last spring by two University of Michigan Medical School physicians and curriculum guides that have been developed before approving this plan. Matthew Lampe of Drug Help Inc., a member of the Narcotics and Drug Educatión Advisory Council of the State I Board of Education, suggested the board I wait until it has time to review state! guidelines for drug education just 1 lished this week. School Supt. R. Bruce McPherson assured the board that all community groups will be involved in the total 1 gram, and the proposal it was taking action on was only one aspect. "This proposal is not a feasibility study, either," the superintendent said,l "it is a combination of research and 1 tion and will eventually involve all 1 dents." According to McPherson, 1 dations for the total program will be I presented in the next few weeks. He also I said that he was positive that this I proposal followed all state guidelines I concerning drug education because close I contact was maintained with state agencies during the planning period. The program approved last night will focus on the junior high schools, and I should prove to be the forerunner for a I widely based secondary program in the I 1972-73 school year, McPherson said. "Action by the board at this time will I ensure a beginning in the area of drug education, even as a more comprehensive plan of action is created. I counsel against impatience in this area for we I must and will have action but it must be planned," the superintendent said. The Collaborative Drug Eduction Program approved last night will constitute only one portion of the total program for the 1971-72 school year. "I feel that each portion of the total program should be subjected to evaluation, and that at least one portion should be characterized by continuing research. I This program fulfills that criterion," I McPherson said. I lilis proposal, said Trustee Ronald I Bishop who made the motion for approval, is a good strong start in the school I drug education program.