Dist. 300 forms panel to fight alcohol, drugs

In May, Community Unit District 300 unveiled a strategic plan that included frank assessments of problems at schools, written by current and former students.

Among the issues brought up were drugs, alcohol and overall school safety. Students said more could be done to combat the influence of drugs and alcohol in their schools, district officials said.

To address these concerns, District 300 has formed a new School Climate Committee. The committee will assess what's being done to fight the presence of drugs and alcohol in schools and what the district can do better.

"It would also look at the overall learning environment to see what we, as educators, can do to make a more conducive learning environment for the kids," said David Scarpino, associate superintendent and a member of the new committee.

The committee is the latest in a series of efforts District 300 has taken to promote school safety, which include installing high-resolution cameras at the high schools and training faculty on lockdown procedures and how to deal with gang-related issues.

The committee includes high school principals and other administrators who deal with student discipline on a daily basis.

The committee would not, however, address specific violations of school policy or formulate disciplinary measures. The school board's Discipline Committee and the Discipline Review Committee handle those areas.

So far, the new group has met several times. One of the ideas that has emerged is getting parents more involved when their kids violate the district's policies on drugs and alcohol.

"It is a great idea to try to get that first teacher back in the picture," Scarpino said.

Scarpino met recently with Carpentersville police and plans to involve them in the School Climate Committee's brainstorming efforts in the future.

"It's good to build the relationship with the police officers," Scarpino said. "They are always willing to stop, listen and help."

Unlike other committees, residents will not be able to serve on the School Climate Committee because of student privacy issues.