City Council
MEETING DATE: 7/11/2018
TITLE:
Title
PSUSD Funding Request for Drug Education Programming
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council approve a request from the PSUSD for a $100,000 contribution to the creation and implementation of drug education programming and approve the necessary budget amendment.
Body
BACKGROUND:
A request was received from the Palm Springs Unified School District, which serves Cathedral City students, to participate with other West Valley cities and the district in funding a new drug education program for district students. Each City has been asked to contribute $100,000 to the effort. The Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage Councils have already approved their Cities' participation. This request was discussed during a two by two meeting with the school district held on May 15, 2018. Mayor Henry was the Council representative at that meeting.
DISCUSSION:
Staff in the Palm Springs Unified School District are concerned about the impact legal marijuana will have on an already concerning level of use that results in suspensions and expulsions of students across the district. Staff is noticing that easier availability coupled with more prevalent forms of packaged edibles are making it easier for students to access Cannabis, in particular. PSUSD has been exploring how to begin to address this issue for students and parents in PSUSD.
In an effort to curb increased substance abuse in adolescents, Palm Springs Unified School District proposes a three-pronged approach:
-Change Board policy regarding expulsion of students. Provide interventions when a student is first caught using on campus. (This action has been completed.) Students are referred for Insight for first offense. They are referred for Bridges with a Mental Health Therapists for a second offense, and not brought to expulsion until the third offense.
-Provide a substance abuse preven...
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