Wayne school district, school resource officers work to steer kids from drugs, alcohol
This is part one in a two part look into the Wayne Public School's emphasis on teaching its youngsters the perils of alcohol and drug use through its Eighth Grade Drug and Alcohol Transition Forum and the "Be Proud" program, as well as trends that school resource officers are seeing in the township in terms of alcohol and drug use in children and teenagers.
WAYNE - Knowledge, insight and trust. Those attributes are part of the Wayne Public School’s emphasis on teaching its youngsters the perils of alcohol and drug use. And it’s why the school’s top brass is stressing the importance of the annual Eighth Grade Drug and Alcohol Transition Forum, as well as the "Be Proud" program, which continues to gain popularity.
The transition forum is coordinated by Suzanne Koransky, RN, and the district’s lead nurse, and features Wayne Police Detectives Michael Zaccone and Mark DuBois, the respective Student Resource Officers (SRO) at Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills High School. The mandatory one-hour forum is generally held at the three middle schools in Wayne for all eighth graders, along with a parent, in December, as the students begin to learn the process of transitioning to high school the following fall. The forum discusses a myriad of obstacles for youngsters when it comes to avoiding alcohol and drug usage, as well as introducing the youngsters to the voluntary "Be Proud" program, which an eighth grader can take part in, starting in January.
"We have found that parents who are well informed can help prevent children from going down a dangerous path," said Koransky. "This is a service to parents and students to prevent poor choices."
According to Koransky, district policy is any student suspected of being under the influence, while on school grounds or taking part in a school-approved extra-curricular activity, must be tested for drug and/or alcohol usage. There is no gray area in this interpretation, and no exceptions.
The "Be Proud" program is a way to help students and, at the same time, not get them in trouble.
"We want to keep children safe," Koransky said. "This isn’t a ‘got’cha’ program. It’s completely voluntary. What we’re learning is that the program gives the student a reason to say no, especially with peer pressure. It has provided parents peace of mind. ‘Be Proud’ is a unique program. No other district (in New Jersey) has implemented what we’re doing. It was featured nationally on Teen Kid News."
According to Michael Ben-David, Wayne’s director of secondary schools, both "Be Proud" and the transition forum are reaching a motivated audience.
"We’re trying to be as proactive as possible," said Ben-David. "We’re aware of the access kids have to information today, which wasn’t the case 20 years ago. As a district, we’re trying to stay on top of the challenges kids face and understand that with social media and cell phones, information is disseminated at a much quicker pace. We’re hoping these programs continue to help parents and their kids navigate through the challenges they face and deepens their knowledge of the dangers of alcohol and drugs."
Detectives Taking The Lead
During a recent transition forum, Zaccone and DuBois gave a passionate talk, discussing their careers in law enforcement, as well as the fact that the two men have a combined six children, all of whom have been, or will be attending high school in Wayne. The SRO’s laid out warning signs for parents to watch when it comes to possible alcohol or drug usage by their children.
"Like Suzanne says, ‘Be Proud’ isn’t ‘got’cha,’" DuBois said. "It’s about saving kids lives. (University of Michigan) studies show that 30 percent of all eighth graders admit to having consumed alcohol. That number goes up to 55 percent for 10th graders and 70 percent by the time the kids are seniors. Fifteen percent of all eighth graders have been drunk, while that number goes up to 30 percent for 10th and 40 percent for high school seniors. Over 50 percent of eighth grade students admit to having seen friends drink while practically 100 percent of seniors admit the same. We are seeing more education when it comes to alcohol consumption, which is why I think D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) has worked well. Kids are asking for rides home and avoiding drinking and driving. The understanding of strict DWI rules and rising insurance rates has gotten through to kids. Since D.A.R.E. started here, not one high school student has passed away due to an alcohol-related accident."
The ‘Be Proud’ contract
"When a student and parent sign a contract to be a part of "Be Proud," the student is subject to testing, at random," said Koransky. "If you are legally taking medication, it won’t hinder your participation in ‘Be Proud.’ If a student is tested positive for the first time, there are zero consequences. No one is notified, past the parent. No one is getting in trouble with the law. It’s a contract between the kid and school. They can drop out of the program at any time. Again, it’s strictly voluntary."
A student from 8th through 12th grades, at a Wayne public school who is enrolled in "Be Proud," can be called, through a completely random process, to the nurse’s office to be tested, through a urinalysis. The sample is then sent to an independent toxicologist who review. The student is not chosen by name, but rather a number assigned to that student.
Wayne schools also have two student assistance counselors, Kim Mapp and Donna King, who are available to district staff, students and parents, especially if a youngster does test positive under "Be Proud."
Having three sons of his own, one of whom is in college while another is in high school and a third will soon be there, DuBois understands the significance of a youngster’s need to feel accepted among peers.
"Believe me, I get that. I’m one of those parents who drives his kids nuts because I want to know where they’re going and what adult is going to be at a party," DeBois said. "If a kid is in a situation where someone is offering he, or she, an illegal drug, or alcohol at a party, ‘Be Proud’ gives them the out to say ‘I can’t. My parents signed me up for that Be Proud program, and for all I know, I could be called down on Monday to be tested.’ Kids are tested completely by random. We’ve had situations with siblings where one kid may have been tested three or four times and the other was never tested over four years. Mike and I have no idea what kids are in the program and what kids aren’t, and we really don’t want to know. We value the trust factor we share with our kids at our schools. We’re not looking to ask what kids are a part of ‘Be Proud,’ but we certainly support it, as parents."
Zaccone noted the warning signs of kids using alcohol, as well as other disturbing trends.
"Beer pongs have become a big game with teenagers," Zaccone said. "As a parent, you have a right to know what your kid is up to. If you see ping pong balls in a kids room, and you don’t own a ping pong table, something is up. If, suddenly, your kid wants to go food shopping with you and really wants those red (Solo) cups, that could be a sign. Most of your kids have a cell phone, and you, as parents, are probably paying the bill. That makes the phone your property, and it’s not a bad idea to see what photos the kids are storing."