There is a stigma that those in higher positions in the administrative field are disconnected with what is happening within their community and schools. Well readers, I’m happy to turn that notion on its ear. I recently sat down with Dr. Glade Montgomery, Superintendent for La Porte Community Schools and Mark Francesconi, Assistant Superintendent/Director of Secondary Education for La Porte Community Schools. The reason for the meeting was for them to inform me (and essentially whoever reads this) of the major steps that are being taken to control and end the drug issues that are affecting La Porte County’s youth.
"This is one of the goals that our school board has set out and I know it’s one of the goals of our community,” Dr. Montgomery said. “Mayor Milo is working with other organizations throughout the city to try to tackle this drug issue. Not just in the city of La Porte, but in La Porte County as well.”
Thus, the Drug Free Task Force was created. Members from the school community as well as the residential, religious and business communities were brought onto this committee. The goals of the Task Force are to try and identify and inform the community about what is happening in the schools, and to educate students on the effects of drugs and narcotics and prevent drug abuse. Dr. Montgomery described the initiative as “putting a fence around it”. What he meant was that the Task Force will look for and fix any gaps or holes in the actions that are being taken to prevent drug abuse in the community and schools. 
Francesconi went into more detail as to what the Task Force was actually doing.
“We wanted to communicate what we had planned and to involve the community in the prioritizing of what we’re doing next and certainly what we’ve done,” Francesconi said. “The idea of the Task Force was to center a collaborative approach, discussion and planning around all of these issues in which we as a school corporation are logging or being strategic about what we’re doing for an anti-drug atmosphere.”
As he spoke, Francesconi handed me the printed version of the Powerpoint presentation that was shown at the first meeting of Task Force. In it is everything that the Task Force has done, is doing now, and is planning to do. It included the drug policies for the schools; anonymous student surveys; a strategic plan that displayed what preventatives that were already in place such as anti-drug clubs, cameras on school buses, anonymous tip lines, and front door security, as well as things that were to happen in the future like revising the drug policy, banning cell phones, and peer counseling groups. In these counseling groups, there were small group discussions where everyone at the meeting discussed ideas and suggestions in a more personal setting. Those in attendance were given “homework” to finish for the next meeting. The homework was to come up with ideas that will help the Task Force be more efficient and effective. At the next meeting, which is to be held on October 18, those ideas will be presented and acted upon.
“At the meeting everyone analyzed the data that we had some good discussion about it,” Francesconi explained. “Then they left with the objective to find data in their own circles as far as: what are the facts? What’s out there for us to grab onto so that we know we know exactly what it is that we need to focus on as a group.”
You may have heard of the recent event where a student got caught with a sizeable amount of drugs in their locker. Though it isn’t necessarily a happy topic, have you asked yourself how the authorities found out? Another student took the initiative to come forward and tell the truth, using the Task Force's new annoymous tip hotline. It takes a brave person to do what is right, but not necessarily popular. This action is needs to be put in the spotlight, not clouded by negativity.
“We want to create a culture and a climate where kids feel safe in coming to us as administrators or adults in their lives if there are drug issues within our schools. And not just drug issues, but anything that would jeopardize the safety of our students,” Dr. Montgomery said. “If they have a friend that they know is using or abusing drugs and they need some help they can call the hotlines. They are anonymous and if kids don’t feel comfortable talking to an adult, they can at least call so that we can start investigating. We can only take action on things we know about.”
The hotlines that Dr. Montgomery spoke of are listed below. If you or someone you know need to report any unwanted activity within the schools, please call either of these numbers. The caller’s identity will remain anonymous.
Safe School Hotline: (219) 324-1380
La Porte High School Safe School Hotline: (219) 324-1390