Schools OK Outside Help in Alcohol, Drug Projects

The Los Angeles school board Monday approved a proposal to allow private-sector drug and alcohol programs to operate on high school campuses.

The proposal, framed by board members Jackie Goldberg and Roberta Weintraub, would allow groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous to establish programs before classes begin, during lunch and after school. All meetings would have to be supervised by a credentialed school counselor.

Supt. Harry Handler said the decision on whether to invite drug or alcohol treatment programs into a school would be left to the school’s principal. The treatment programs will probably begin in September, he said.

The school district staff was asked to prepare a preliminary report by the first week in May outlining the process for selecting programs to work with the high schools.

Bartman Amendment

Also approved by the board was an amendment offered by board member Tom Bartman that he said would ensure that the programs meet federal “equal access” requirements. If the school district allowed private sector groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous into schools, it also would have to allow similar programs run by religious organizations, Bartman said.

Representatives of several community and treatment organizations attended the meeting and offered to work with the district.

Rene Topalian, of the Drug Abuse Services Section of the Los Angeles County Department of Health, suggested that the school board consider instituting a more comprehensive program to discourage drug and alcohol abuse. She said there should be a drug and alcohol education program for elementary schools, prevention and treatment programs for junior highs, and only treatment programs at the high school level.