COUNTYWIDE : $3,000 Donated by Masons to Schools
The Ventura County superintendent of schools have received a $3,000 donation from the Masons of California as part of a $15,000 gift from the service group to develop programs in five counties that discourage the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
The money is part of funds raised annually by the Masons and given to county school offices in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kern and Los Angeles counties, said Jean Varden, director of the county superintendent of schools’ Healthy Kids Center.
The five counties constitute Region 8 of the state’s Healthy Kids Regional Centers. The centers specialize in programs that help develop curricula and programs to prevent the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco by schoolchildren.
The money will be used to train teachers and parent leaders in developing techniques that help children learn self-discipline, responsibility, problem-solving skills and cooperation. Children who lack skills in those areas often abuse drugs or alcohol, officials said.
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