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- Thomas Jefferson
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night. -
Steve Martin
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when it fails to work as advertised, it's the customer that gets labeled as
defective. - Kevin
Killion
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Courage is the most important of all
the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other
virtues consistently. You can't be consistently kind or fair or
humane or generous, not without courage, because if you don't have
it, sooner or later you will stop and say, "The threat is too much.
The difficulty is ...too high. The challenge is too great. ~ Maya
Angelou
Austin American-Statesman - May 19, 2008
-
The
Eanes school district has started a
districtwide effort to head off what
some see as a growing drug and alcohol
abuse problem.
In the
fall, the district hired a company that
surveys students in communities across
North America about their drug and
alcohol use. The Pride Survey, released
in October, found that Westlake seniors
use alcohol and marijuana more than the
national average and that Eanes students
start using them earlier than average.
Fifty-four percent of Westlake seniors
reported that they drink alcohol at
least once a month, versus about 42
percent nationally, according to the
survey. Nearly half of the seniors
surveyed said they used marijuana in the
past year (versus 32 percent
nationally), and 28 percent of seniors
said they used it at least once a month
(compared with 20 percent nationally).
Wellman
said the October report did not need to
address hard drugs.
"We know
alcohol and marijuana are gateway
drugs," she said. "The students using
them are at risk for harder drugs. We're
trying to help at-risk students."
Article here
KeepEanesInformed
has also obtained the following power
point presentation at this
link:
Pride Survey 2007
Excerpt from 2007 Pride Survey
Summary:
Age of Onset of use
<in Eanes ISD>appears
to be getting younger and younger.
Research shows that the earlier a
student uses alcohol the greater
risk they are to becoming addicted
to alcohol and other substances.
One of the goals of prevention
programs is to the delay the age of
first use.
Alcohol use <in Eanes ISD> is
above the national average in 10th,
11th and 12th
grades along with a high use of
illicit drugs reported by students
at WHS. For example, 76% of 12th
graders report using alcohol on an
annual basis and 54% on a monthly
basis. Another concern is marijuana
use among 10th, 11th
and 12th graders with 28%
reporting monthly use of marijuana.
Prior Efforts by Parents
to Address Drug and Alcohol Use in Eanes ISD
Nola Wellman
began working in Eanes ISD in January 2004.
She was
immediately and fully informed of the Eanes ISD drug and
alcohol problems in our schools.
From:
Dianna Pharr [mailto:dpharr@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 6:46 AM
To: 'Nola Wellman'
Subject: meeting request
Dear Dr. Wellman,
A group of WHS parents are requesting a
meeting with you, Dr. Veach and Mr. Mayton to express our
serious concern about the environment of the ninth grade
center. This group of parents also includes some higher
grade level parents who have children who are involved as
well. We want to address these concerns with you as well
as the principals so that we can communicate specific
information to you. We will be preparing a written summary
report of our concerns as well. We have general concerns
that affect our children on and off campus as well as a
strong awareness that drugs and alcohol are rampant at WHS.
This use is occurring on campus during school hours as well
as off campus and after school.
The group understands that it will be your
decision to determine the number of people in attendance.
We can invite many (12-50) or a few (5-10).
We hope to work with the school to affect
change now. Our group will continue to meet regularly. We
also welcome you to attend a home meeting.
I am active in Safe Homes and have served as
the Westlake High School Safe Homes representative this
year. I am not acting within my role as a Safe Homes
representative in requesting this meeting. Rather, I am
requesting this meeting as a spokesperson for a group of
very concerned mothers and fathers who contacted me to ask
for help.
Even "straight-arrow” children are affected by this issue daily. It causes much
confusion and anxiety for children to receive drug offers
daily and watch others that they have known since
kindergarten, seek to commit suicide or enter drug
rehabilitation.
We are seeking your leadership, as
superintendent, to assure that a plan is in place to address
our concerns and protect our children. We are willing to
give our time and resources to work with the school district
as partners to address these issues now.
Please let me know two times that you, Dr.
Veach and Mr. Mayton are able to meet with us and the number
of parents that you believe would be appropriate. I will
relay that information to our group and arrange the
meeting.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Dianna Pharr
-----Original
Message-----
From: Dianna Pharr [mailto:dpharr@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 5:51 PM
To: 'Alan Veach'
Cc: 'Nola Wellman'
Subject: RE: Meeting held on 1/21/04
You and I talked
after a PTO meeting about the drug and alcohol problem at
WHS two months ago. Were you able to follow up on the
report by <<name redacted>> that drug dealers regularly
occupy the bus routes after school in Rollingwood, Sundown
Parkway and Barton Creek West? I am extremely concerned by
the many, many accounts of drug and alcohol use in WHS.
I have asked Dr. Wellman to meet with a concerned group of
parents and the administration of WHS to address this
issue.
A safe environment
can only be accomplished by addressing problems directly and
promptly. I hope to work with you, others in the district
and parents to make the WHS campus a safe environment for
all students. You can count on me to be honest with you
about my perspective and focused on the best interest of the
children.
Sincerely,
Dianna Pharr
From:
Dianna Pharr [mailto:dpharr@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 7:12 PM
To: 'Nola Wellman'
Subject: Friday Meeting
Dear Dr. Wellman,
Jo Carol asked
that I provide you with a
list of the parents who will meet with you on Friday
afternoon to discuss the drug and alcohol problem at WHS. I
have also listed contact information and the name of each
parent’s ninth grade child.
Our meeting today at the
ninth grade center with Dr. Veach and Mr. Mayton was
productive. We agreed to work towards forming a partnership
between parents and WHS administration. We also agreed to
work within the Safe Homes organization to accomplish our
goals. I will forward a copy of my summary of that meeting
to you soon.
Thank you,
Dianna Pharr
Friday 1:30 – 2:30
<<names redacted>>
From: Dianna Pharr [mailto:dpharr@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 10:37 AM
To: 'Nola Wellman'
Subject: Drug and Alcohol Issue - FYI
Dr. Wellman,
Thank you for meeting with us on Friday
afternoon. We are all hopeful that you will be able to
change the current lack of attention to this problem. We
want to join you and other EISD administrators in this
effort. Thank you for giving us that opportunity and
allowing us to have a voice. I joined other community
members and walked the ninth grade center campus to try to
understand where the “path” and “concrete platform” are
located behind the baseball fields. We were shocked to find
a multitude of fresh trash including latex gloves, cigarette
cartons, beer cans, and food containers strewn along the
path. The low-lying wooded area below was virtually covered
in trash.
As we discussed in our meeting, I am
disturbed that parents in our district must look to private
schools and homeschooling to find an environment that is
appropriate for our students. Then, our district replaces
our own community’s children with transfer students. I am
forwarding a message (with permission) from yet another
district parent who will be removing her children from our
district.
Sincerely,
Dianna Pharr
From:
<<<redacted>>>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 8:28 AM
To: Dianna Pharr
Subject: Re: TABC contact
Dianna, Yes,
by all means forward my e-mail to Dr. Wellman. I don't mind
if she sees my name.
<<<redacted>>> , would you mind if I
forwarded your email to Dr. Wellman? I could, of course,
remove your name and any identifiers before I forwarded it
to her, if you wish.
From: <<<redacted>>>
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 4:12 PM
To: Dianna Pharr
Subject: Re: TABC contact
Dianna,
Yes,
please include me in meeting with Captain Ferraro. I am
extremely concerned and fearful of the rampant drug use at
Westlake. My 9th grade son comes home DAILY with another
horrifying story about the availability of drugs on campus.
He is approached regularly about buying drugs from students
at Westlake. I am looking into private school options
for both of my kids at Westlake.
I want to pass along an email from Captain
David Ferrero of the TABC (Texas Alchohol and Beverage
Commission). He is a supporter of Safe Homes and a regular
speaker at S.H. programs. Please feel free to contact him
with any questions/concerns. He is a wonderful resource. I
am sure that he would be willing to meet with us to explain
the laws around such issues as drug dogs, EISD boundaries
and jurisdictions, the latest designer drugs, drug testing,
and many other issues we have talked about.
If you would be interested in meeting with
Captain Ferraro, please let me know. I will schedule a
meeting, perhaps at the library gathering room.
From:
David Ferrero [mailto:d.ferrero@tabc.state.tx.us]
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 2:25 PM
Subject: RE: TABC
Hello all
My direct line is 206-3408. Voice mail is now
available if I am out. Also e-mail is
d.ferrero@tabc.state.tx.us.
Please contact me if there is anything I can
do.
Thanks
David Ferrero
From:
Dianna Pharr [mailto:dpharr@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 3:30 PM
To: 'Nola Wellman'; 'JoCarol Kastner'; 'Harvey Mayton';
'Alan Veach'
Subject: Meeting Summary - NGC
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Meeting – Ninth Grade Center – WHS
Tuesday, February 17, 2004 – 10:00 a.m.Summary of Meeting –
prepared by Dianna Pharr
Dr. Alan Veach
Mr. Harvey Mayton
Five NGC parents in
attendance
Parent input
We are concerned with
the ease that children obtain drugs and alcohol at the ninth
grade center. On a daily basis, children are getting drunk
and high at school and then coming back to class. Other
students who are selling a variety of drugs approach our
children regularly in the commons, the bathrooms, the
lunchroom, hallways, and buses. While we recognize that we
cannot eliminate this activity, we want to minimize the
availability and exposure our children have while they are
at school for 7 hours. We are working at home on these
issues. We are getting together as parents to communicate
and being proactive to keep our kids safe. We are sharing
what we hear.
Drug dealer are actively
pushing the drugs and our children must say no every day,
not just occasionally. They cannot get away from it. We
met with three APD officers and the management of the Barton
Creek Mall to address the issues that are happening at the
mall. Students with cars are picking up ninth grade girls
from the mall and supplying alcohol and drugs before
returning the girls to the mall, drunk and stoned. This is
also occurring at lunchtime. Ninth grade girls and boys
return after lunch intoxicated.
Students are getting
high on pot as soon as they reach the WHS campus in the
morning. They go to the first few periods high and after
third period, they drink alcohol and get drunk. They are
often tardy to 4th period. One mom observed that
tardiest for 4th period should be carefully
recorded and reviewed. Her child’s tardies were high in 4th
period only. The students recognize when their classmates
are high or drunk. Why aren’t the teachers turning these
kids in?
We are hearing a lot
about WHS kids calling at home, even in the middle of the
night, continuing to offer drugs for sale. There is a path
leading to a concrete platform behind the baseball field
where the hash pipes and drugs are stored. The students use
cell phone to notify each other when the security officers
are prowling and when it is “safe” to go to the platform.
In addition, when the drug dogs are in the building,
students use cell phones to notify the drug carriers and a
mad dash to get rid of the drugs by flushing and concealing
ensues.
Children are staggering
and throwing up after lunch in the hallways and classroom.
Students are reporting that the other student smell heavily
of marijuana and alcohol and yet are allowed to remain in
class. They state that the students are obviously high.
The problem is so severe
and pervasive that even though our children “know” that
using the drugs is illegal, they report that in the face of
daily pressure to buy and use, they are not able to resist
and have a very difficult time repeatedly saying no.
Our children should be
safe at school. We know that we are doing every thing in
our power to keep them safe at home. What is the school
doing? Where are the adults … teachers, staff,
administrators, custodians … how can this be happening?
Students report that the sheriff is useless. He patrols the
fields, but students get past that hurdle by using their
cell phones. What is the policy on cell phones?
Mr. Mayton asked: Do
ninth graders indicate who is selling?
Parent response: 11th
and 12th graders
Mr. Mayton asked: Was
there an escalation when older student began to come over
for lunch in January?
Parent response: We do
believe that problem ramped up during late Nov, Dec and then
again after winter break, in January.
Dr. Veach: 3-4 of the
offenders are now off campus.
Parent response: Yes,
but the contacts are still there.
We discussed the dress
code and that WHS should enforce its policy and send the
message that we have expectations of our students to behave
in an appropriate way at school. This would help send the
message that we have zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use
in our schools.
We discussed drug
testing. How can we address this with the board?
Dr. Veach told us that
alcohol is a major problem with athletes in our district and
that many are at DAEP currently.
One parent discussed
that a ninth grade girl wrote a letter to her daughter
stating that she is now dealing “YAY”, which is cocaine
selling for $50.00 a hit or $70 cut with speed. She
suggested comparing handwriting samples to the note to
identify the student. We asked Dr. Veach to handle that
instead of parent and he agreed that would be appropriate.
He expressed that he needs information from students and
parents is confidential and anonymous. Dr. Veach talked
about offering rewards for information. Some parents stated
that money does not motivate our children since they tend to
have easy access to money and therefore drugs.
We talked about a brick
house on Allen where students trespass and do drugs.
Children are using the
baseball field and surrounding woods as safe places to get
high. Parents are reporting that they smell marijuana in
the commons area of the NGC.
Students are storing
drugs in gas caps of the cars so that the dogs are not able
to detect by sniffing. Perhaps we could ask the students to
leave their backpacks in the classroom, exit, and then allow
the dogs to work. This would also work on the buses since
we cannot allow dogs to sniff the students directly when
there is no specific reason to suspect. We need to
understand legal and local policy on drug sniffing dogs and
work with the board to insure that policies meet the needs
of our campuses and the best interest of our students
The parents and
administrators of WHS agreed to work together as a part of
the Safe Homes organization. Dianna Pharr, WHS Safe Homes
Chair, asked Dr. Veach and Mr. Mayton to join us on March 9th
for our Safe Homes meeting in the Chaps Room by Dr. Vetch’s
office. We will discuss and act upon ways to organize the
parent’s resources and form a strong partnership between the
district and parents to address this important issue now.
Dr. Veach agreed that he
will meet with Kathy Clay, EISD Safe Homes Chair, and Dianna
Pharr, WHS Safe Homes Chair, to discuss the March 9 meeting
and plans to communicate these issues effectively at the
upcoming S.H. program. Dianna requested that Dr. Veach
write a letter (hard copy and mailed) to parents to announce
the efforts and solicit involvement and information from
parents and students.
The meeting was
productive and all agreed to work together toward our common
goals of keeping our students safe. Parents and
administration expressed appreciation for the opportunity to
work together.
From:
Dianna Pharr [mailto:dpharr@austin.rr.com]
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 7:24 AM
To: 'Ruth Bibb'
Cc: 'Tom Zimmerer'; 'Nola Wellman'
Subject: WHS campus security - open records request
Hello Ruth,
I want to review the files of the campus
security personnel at WHS. I am somewhat unsure of their
full names. I’ve heard “Flash” and “Spence”, Mickey
Spence. I am interested to know who employs these
positions, whether they are full or part time and their
authority and position. As I understand it from a parent,
who’s a prosecutor, if one of these positions is a sheriff’s
deputy and not just a security guard, there is legal
authorization for him to detain anyone doing drugs on the
other side of school property.
We are meeting this afternoon at 1:30 with
Dr. Wellman. Please email or call me and let me know when
this information will be ready for review.
I am requesting this information pursuant to
the Texas Public Information Act.
Thank you for your
support. This idea of dogs on the bus is not one I have
discussed, but I see that this culd certainly be an issue.
There could be some logistical issues such as the dogs are
not here when buses come, but I will visit with our
Transportation Supervisor regarding this issue. I will let
you know where we go from here
Sincerely,
Kathleen Sullivan
>>> "Dianna Pharr"
<dpharr@austin.rr.com> 09/16/05 11:59 AM >>>
Ms. Sullivan,
Thank you for
addressing the drug and alcohol problem at WHS. I have
advocated many times in the past for increased efforts in
this regard and served as the Safe Homes Chair for WHS a
couple of years ago. Please consider adopting a similar
policy on the school buses that may include asking students
to leave backpacks on the bus while the dogs search. I
discussed this with Alan Veach two or three years ago at a
PTO meeting at WHS because many parents were explaining that
drug vendors used the EISD buses for point of sale. Of
course, the bus driver (only adult on bus) must keep his
attention on traffic, not drug trafficking.
I understand that
EISD must know and follow the law in regard to drug searches
and yet, I hope that this issue is priority for the sake of
our young people and community.
Dianna
-----Original
Message-----
From: Westlake
High School [mailto:whsnews@eanes.k12.tx.us]
Sent: Friday,
September 16, 2005 11:40 AM
To: dpharr@austin.rr.com
Subject: WHS
Parent E-mail 9/16/05
Parent E-mail 9-16-05
In the past two
months, a variety of parents representing various venues
have approached me about concerns regarding drugs and
alcohol among the high school students. I too am concerned
about these unsafe behaviors. As you know there are various
parent groups in the community that are working within the
community to address these issues. As a school, we will have
some things planned to help prevent these behaviors. I'd
like to focus on one effort that will be different than in
the past, and that is drug dogs. We have had drug dogs in
the past, but they have been primarily used in the parking
lots. This year we have increased the number of visits from
2 to 6.
Additionally, the
biggest change is that the drug dogs will be going into
classrooms this year. What will happen is that I will
randomly draw a room number out of a hat so to speak, and
then we will go to that room. The students and teacher will
leave all their belongings in the classroom and exit into
the hall. Then the dog, the dog handler, and an
administrator will go into the classroom as the dog sweeps
through sniffing backpacks, purses etc. If the dog alerts on
a bag the administrator will look to see who the bag belongs
to. The entire process should only take about 5 minutes and
is not designed to substantially disrupt instruction. Then
that bag and the student will be brought to the office where
further investigation will occur. If on the off chance I
choose a room where there is a test being administered, I
will choose a second option. The dogs have not yet come, and
we do not know what day they will come, but I will keep you
posted on how this is going through out the year.
