Are drugs a major problem at Becker schools?
Here’s the responses from school officials based on the anonymous letter sent to the school and Citizen-Tribune last week (responses can be attributed to Supt. Jeremy Schmidt and Principal David Kreft):
Drugs are sold in the bathrooms in the high school out of Altoid containers.
We (school) have never heard of a single report about drugs sold in bathrooms, nor have we heard anything in regard to Altoid containers. When reports are given, we follow up on each report. We have not heard reports from students or teachers about vaping in classrooms, nor students smelling of marijuana. Teachers have a mechanism of informing administration and our resource officer when they have concerns. We follow up on each report. Students have multiple anonymous ways of reporting information, outside of informing a trusted adult at school.
We would like the administration to work aggressively with local law enforcement
We have a resource officer in our building every day. When he is absent, another officer from Sherburne County is here in his absence. When students are found to be using chemicals or in possession of any type of paraphernalia, citations are issued, in accordance with the law. Students receive a school penalty, a citation, and a MN State High School League violation as appropriate.
We would also ask that the current administration be transparent with parents in what steps are being taken to make the school a safer place for our children and notify parents of the enforcement that is taking place at the school
Currently the school works with the Substance Use Coalition of Sherburne County to disseminate information between schools. Monthly meetings are held and communication is sent out to all schools in the county for prevention and looks for as to what is happening in schools. Also, each school has a Drug Coalition student advisory team. Becker’s is the Dream Team. This team is comprised of students looking for alternative ways to interact and spend time without drugs and alcohol. Becker has one of the most active teams in the region. They also spend time looking at ways to positively work with the kids in the Middle and Intermediate Schools.
Staff and parent meetings have been held in the school about vaping. Chemical Health Counselor Jenny Kenning has provided training to both. This included information related to drug identification and noticing signs in the classrooms. Emails have been sent to parents with information and links related to vaping.
With the help of the school Nurse, students that enter the BASE (Alternative Program) are randomly drug tested. If a student fails, they are referred to the Chemical Health Counselor. If a student doesn’t show progress, they will then be referred for a Chemical Health Evaluation.
When a student search becomes necessary, due to reasonable suspicion, parents and the School Resource Officer are notified. Appropriate consequences are handed out when and if necessary, up to and including suspension and legal charges.
Students would have to volunteer the fact that they are selling or buying drugs at school
Pursuant to Minnesota statutes, school lockers are the property of the school district. At no time does the school district relinquish its exclusive control of lockers provided for the convenience of students. Inspection of the interior of lockers may be conducted by school officials for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.”
Student searches take place weekly by administration when there is reasonable suspicion. Our resource officer partners with us during searches that may have potential legal ramifications. Searches have/may take place of lockers, vehicles, backpacks, or of the individual. Bathrooms are more closely monitored by staff, especially when a group of students is present in the bathrooms. Video cameras in the assistant principal’s office are focused on bathroom areas that have been reported for vaping or vandalism in the past. We are partnering with Sherburne County to have the K-9 force in our schools in January or February.
Sherburne County Sergeant and leader of the school resource officers will do random sweeps and checks of restrooms at schools within the county, he has never found students using chemicals in Becker restrooms during his sweeps. In sweeps in other schools, he routinely will find students with chemicals. Sherburne County Law Enforcement may be another resource to contact for more information regarding Becker Schools and this issue, particularly in comparison with other schools they work with.
Statistics
Ninety-eight percent of eighth grade boys and girls have admitted they have never used marijuana compared to 94-95% in Sherburne County and 94% in the state of Minnesota. For ninth graders, it was 89% for boys and 93% for girls compared to 87% and 88% at the county and 89% at the state level. For 11th graders, it was 76% at Becker for boys and 82% for girls compared to 75% and 73% at the county level and 76% at the state level.
Theses statistics are from the MN Student Survey administered to 8th, 9th and 11th grade students annually— including Spring of 2019.
