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Keep Eanes Informed
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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]
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----- 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]
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]
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,
From:
<<<redacted>>>
Dianna, Yes, by all means forward my e-mail to Dr. Wellman. I don't mind if she sees my name. <<redacted>>
----- Original Message ----- From: Dianna Pharr To: <<<redacted>>> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 5:24 PM Subject: RE: TABC contact
<<<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.
Dianna
P.S. Please visit my new Safe Homes page on www.keepeanesinformed.com.
From: <<<redacted>>>
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. <<<redacted>>>
----- Original Message ----- From: Dianna Pharr To: <<<redacted>>> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 8:07 AM Subject: TABC contact
Hello all, 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. Dianna
From:
David Ferrero [mailto:d.ferrero@tabc.state.tx.us]
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]
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] 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, Dianna Pharr Cc: Mr. Tom Zimmerer Dr. Nola Wellman
-----Original
Message-----
Thank you! I appreciate your response and your efforts towards a safe environment for learning. Thank you, Dianna
-----Original Message----- From: Kathleen Sullivan [mailto:ksulliva@eanes.k12.tx.us] Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 12:59 PM To: dpharr@austin.rr.com Cc: Nola Wellman Subject: Re: RESPONSE --- WHS Parent E-mail 9/16/05
Good afternoon, 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.
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