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Colonial School District (CSD) School Board, administrators and local police department officials joined forces on June 7, 2007 to formalize their plans to launch the Colonial Cares Coalition - a think tank which will identify best practices for preventing drug and alcohol access and usage among CSD students and promote additional methods of prevention and deterrence.
This collaborative of school district leaders and police authorities from Plymouth Township, Whitemarsh Township and Conshohocken Borough will meet regularly over the summer to carefully evaluate the districts drug and alcohol prevention programs and research and recommend best practices for additional prevention methods. The Coalition will present its findings and recommend a course of action at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year.
"I am delighted that we are reaffirming our partnership and commitment to continue working in conjunction with local police departments to do everything possible to keep illegal drugs out of the Colonial Schools," stressed Dr. Vince Cotter, CSD Superintendent. "Our goal is to ensure that all Colonial Schools are safe for all children by working together. It is in support of our unwavering commitment to keep illegal drugs out of our schools that we embrace and expand the opportunity to work collaboratively with Plymouth Township Police Chief Carmen D. Pettine, Whitemarsh Township Police Chief Eileen W. Behr and Conshohocken Borough Police Chief James H. Dougherty."
Police Chief Pettine expressed confidence in this new level of collaboration. "A renewed relationship has been forged between the Colonial School District and area police departments and I look forward to the positive changes that will occur," he stressed. "Our goal has always been to ensure the welfare of children by keeping drugs out of schools. With this partnership now in place, we are all focused on working together to reach this goal."
"There is really nothing more important in law enforcement than making sure that our children are safe, in their homes, on the street and in their schools," added Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman. "They spend so much time in school. It's impossible for schools to work alone to make that happen.
"The school community and the law enforcement community have to work together in a collaborative way to keep the schools safe," Ferman continued. "I'm thrilled to see everyone stepping up today in the Colonial School District and the surrounding Police Departments to make sure that happens."
In a symbolic commencement of the Colonial Cares Coalition, officials from the school district and the local police departments signed a Declaration of Collaboration, a mutually agreed upon set of beliefs which will guide both parties in moving forward. The Declaration states:
- We believe that collaboration and communication between the school district and police department are critical in the prevention of drug and alcohol access and usage.
- We believe that examining best practices in school districts nationwide is prudent and can be instrumental in guiding the direction of future programs. We have done this to date and will continue to do so.
- We believe that working within the framework of our Memorandum of Understanding will ensure a positive and supportive relationship between the school district and the police department.
- We believe that an ongoing assessment of the districts existing drug and alcohol prevention program is essential in helping to see where the district is, and where it needs to be.
"The safety and well being of our students has always been and remains our primary concern." School Board President Marc Orlow said. "We are happy to build upon existing relationships with our local and county law enforcement offices and will do everything in our power to provide a safe, drug-free environment for the students of Colonial."
Currently, CSD implements a multi-faceted drug and alcohol prevention program. Integral components of the program are a Zero Tolerance policy that is strictly enforced; a team of in-school security officers supported by a state-of-the art, 41-camera surveillance system; a code of ethics related to extra-curricular activities and classroom education. Other key aspects of the prevention program are counseling and support programs for parents and families, student assistance teams, student clubs focused on prevention, drug and alcohol safety programs and assemblies, alternative school placements, an anonymous tip hotline and cooperation between the district and local police departments.
"But this is just the beginning," Dr. Cotter emphasized. "By generating new ideas through our work with our local police departments, we hope to reach 'Above and Beyond,' thus creating an even safer and drug-free learning environment." |