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Berkeley County Schools stand guard against heroin epidemic

Editor’s note: The following is the second part in a series tackling the heroin epidemic sweeping the nation, state and Eastern Panhandle. Part two focuses upon the heroin epidemic and its affects inside the Berkeley County School system.

By JEFF MCCOY

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — As the region continues to be swept into the heroin crisis, one segment of the community is trying to maintain a drug-free environment.

Perhaps one of the most critical places to keep vigilant is where most of the children spend a large part of their day. Berkeley County Schools has strict policies about the welfare of their students.

“We know that it’s out there. We have had some overdoses that we have seen in the community,” said Ron Stephens, assistant superintendent for pupil services. “We’ve had some parents of students and siblings of students who have gotten in trouble, but we have not (seen it in the schools).”

The school board not only has its own strict guidelines but also have to follow state law.

“There are a number of things the school system has to take into account even before this focus on this opioid epidemic,” Stephens said. “It goes back to the base policy. If a student is in violation of that base policy there are required measures that schools have to take. If they unlawfully possess, use or are under the influence of, distribute or sell, that is a violation of West Virginia Code and should that happen it is very strict on what has to take place. Those are referred to as Level Four offenses which are the highest level. There are laws that require the principal, the superintendent, the county board to address level four behaviors in a specific way.”

Regardless of a student’s grades, attendance or activities if they are guilty of a Level Four offense they must appear for a hearing.

“Should that happen, they are required to be brought before the Board for an expulsion hearing and our Board of Education has to take action,” Stephens said.

By staying active with the students, following policy and constantly watching for any signs of drug use or dealing the schools have been successful in keeping it outside and off of school property.

“Fortunately, we haven’t had to cross that bridge with heroin or those kinds of things on school property, on school time with our kids. I’m not saying that it is not there. We are looking for it, we’ve tightened up our policy, you patrol the hallways, you patrol the restrooms, you reinforce the fact that they have to be in class, all of those basics, it really does tighten things up at the school,” Stephens said.

With heroin so easy to find and purchase, and with every community affected by it, schools work hard to remain vigilant in keeping it out.

“I know that there are trainings or workshops at the beginning of each year that helps our staff members focus on what to be on the lookout for,”Stephens said. “Prescription drugs, over the counter drugs alcohol, Marijuana, narcotics are all included in the uniform controlled substance act. That helps because any pill that is seen in the hallway or anywhere else — everyone knows that’s against the rules.”

Security systems are in place to help the staff make sure that school property stays drug-free. Parents and visitors must sign in upon arrival on school grounds during school hours.

“We have had people that did not check in the main office appropriately that we have tracked down, escorted off the premises,” Stephens said. “Later we found out that they are in that culture. We’re hoping that we caught them beforehand.”

The students also know the penalty for dealing or using drugs can be strict, swift and severe.

“There is a requirement that says they have to be assigned to an alternative education plan unless they are deemed inherently dangerous. If they are deemed inherently dangerous the school board can keep them out of school, totally, no education for 365 days,” Stephens said. “Fortunately, we haven’t had to cross that bridge with heroin or those kinds of things on school property, on school time with our kids.”

The Martinsburg Initiative is a partnership that has offers solutions to the problem of opiate addiction. The Martinsburg Police Department and the Berkeley County Schools has formed the partnership which includes faith-based organizations, healthcare officials, and law enforcement. It targets at-risk children in troubled families to identify the basic causes of drug abuse.

“We are bound and determined to make that work and I think a big part is communication. The school system looking for those students that are showing signs, early on, and that have needs and are high risk,” Stephens said. “We call them ‘aces.’ If they have a large number of aces, those are adverse childhood experiences we keep track of it. The more of those that you have, and they could be something easy to measure like children of a divorce, single parents, also you’re looking at a death in the family, traumatic experiences they’ve had to go through, there is a whole list of them, the more of those aces they have the more high risk they are. Those are the students that we really focus on and work with the city police here. We are hoping to expand that out to other schools in the district.”

The school also reaches out to the students in different ways to educate them about the dangers of starting on drugs.

“My department was in every primary and intermediate school last year with local law enforcement with Sheriff (Kenny) Lemaster the last few years felt like that was important,” Stephens said. “For the high school level we’ve had some people come in assemblies (with) presentations, concerts, more of a focused effort over a couple of days or a week and talk about it again.”

For Stephens, like other staff and teachers, it’s a real problem that has to be dealt with. They understand firsthand the fears that many parents have.

“I’ve got children in the schools here. I am scared to death of that epidemic. It makes me physically sick to my stomach. I go home and I have those conversations with my kids and they’re uncomfortable and they don’t like it and I’m going to make them listen and it could still happen,” Stephens said. “It scares me to death and I know it scares our people, the teachers, the administrators, our counselors. They are constantly trying to stay up to date. I’m not naive. We are very fortunate right now to be in the midst of such a terrible epidemic that hasn’t had more of an effect in our schools.”

Dealing drugs in a school zone carries additional penalties. Drug dealers will face those extra penalties if they deal drugs in a school zone even if it does not involve students.

“They know if they mess around with schools that’s the quickest way to sink themselves,” Stephens said.

It’s a battle that the schools take seriously and face it daily.

“I know it’s out there,” Stephens said. “I know we have got to fight it.”

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