Lawrence takes a stand against drug use

A new organization, Students for Students With Addictions, comprised of seven Lawrence High School students, which will address student drug use, was introduced at the district’s second town hall meeting on Nov. 2.

J.T. Colon, Jeanine Markey, Ron Sadet, Rachel Klein, James Schneider, Jessie Friedlander and Emmonie Bennett went through an interview process and were selected by district officials for this new initiative, spearheaded by Lawrence High School Social Worker Wendy Grand.

Klein, a junior, said she hopes to help her peers through this new organization. “We’re trying to get as many of our fellow students on a good path,” she said, “because it can be hard to go back and a clean slate is not always offered.”

According to Sadet, drug use has a lot to do with peer pressure. “It’s not the path you want to go on,” he said. “It starts off with something small and ends with something big -- like death.”

District Superintendent Gary Schall said it’s very easy to discuss issues, such as drug abuse, behind closed doors but that he is committed to bringing these issues forward. “Seventeen years ago when I was the first-grade music teacher in the district, I had Christopher Keen as my student,” he said. “A year and a half after he graduated Lawrence High School (in 2007), he died of an overdose.”

Schall contacted Keen’s father, Dr. W. Hubert Keen, president of SUNY Farmingdale, to come and speak at the meeting but he respectfully declined Schall’s offer. “He (Dr. Keen) feels helpless in dealing with this problem,” he said. “We will tackle this issue.”

Evelyn Jackson currently has one child in high school, one in middle school and three children who are Lawrence High School graduates and said the organization should network with other groups in the community. “I’m so excited to be apart of Lawrence tonight,” said the president of the Nassau County Section of the National Council of Negro Women, at the town hall meeting. “This is a bigger problem than just in the Five Towns and the fact that we’re taking a stand is a start.”

Assistant Superintendent for Student and Community Affairs Pat Pizzarelli said the district has a zero tolerance policy for illegal substances and students will serve a minimum of three months out of school suspension if they are caught. “Of my 20 years in the Lawrence schools --- one death is too many,” he said. “We cannot do this alone. We want (parents) to call us if you know about kids in the neighborhood where bad things are happening.”

Tammy Maddaloni, a parent of two high school students, has attended both district meetings and thinks they have been informative. “I hope they keep going with this new (student) organization and that they spread the word among their peers,” she said. “If we can keep one child from falling into the hands of drugs and keep them alive, than it’s a good committee.”

Schall hopes Students for Students With Addictions brings about change in the school. “Our students can be the instruments in change,” he said. “I’m hopeful Lawrence High School will be a beacon of light for these issues.”

The next town hall meeting is scheduled for Feb. 7, and budget initiatives will be discussed.