NUSD Proactive in Educating and Preventing Drug Use



The Novato Unified School District is well aware how drugs adversely affect student learning.  It is no secret that there is an alcohol and other drugs problem in the schools not just here in Novato, but in Marin County, California and the nation.  The recent 2011-12 California Healthy Kids survey indicated that 34% of 11th graders had used marijuana in the past 30 days and 32% of 11th graders have been “high” from using drugs 7 or more times.  Kids can’t learn when they’re under the influence. 

The Board of Trustees recently approved the partnership with the Novato Police Department for the Narcotics Detection Canine Program and with North Bay Security Group to provide drug and alcohol education and intervention. 

NUSD has employed the use of trained drug detection dogs at the secondary schools since 2003.  Partnering with the Novato Police Department gives our local police officers an opportunity to develop relationships with local youth.  While the officer and canine are on campus to legally sniff out narcotics through random drug detections, they’re also there to engage in conversations with the students.  “Animals are a great segue for conversation and having our police officers on campus will be similar to when we had school resource officers,” said Chief James Berg, Novato Police Department.   “We’re excited to be partnering with the school district to help solve this critical issue in our community.”   Not only will the police officers and canines be at the three high schools, they will also be at the middle schools providing counseling and education to 6th graders.  Rey Mayoral, Novato High School principal, remarked, “I view the canine detection program as an intervention tool to help kids get off drugs and to ensure the safety and welfare of our students in our schools.”

Through their work with students in the district, the North Bay Security Group and NUSD identified a critical need:  counseling services for students and families with identified alcohol and drug problems.   In the past, when a student was formally charged with drug possession, they wouldn’t receive drug and/or alcohol intervention or counseling until they were put on probation.  Getting a student on probation took months – precious months that could be used to support the student in addressing their issues.

North Bay Security Group has hired Gary Federoff, a counselor formerly with Bay Area Counseling Resources.  He will be providing immediate evidence-based drug/alcohol intervention counseling, student monitoring, parent guidance, and collaboration with school, law enforcement, and community support providers. 

NUSD is in discussions with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties (BGCMSSC) on providing a collaborative after-school program at San Jose Middle School.  The Boys & Girls Clubs have been working with young people for more than a century putting them on the path to great futures.  Boys & Girls Clubs annually serve nearly 4 million youth, through membership and community outreach in some 4,000 Club facilities throughout the country and U.S. military installations worldwide.

The hallmark of the Boys & Girls Clubs is their community-based and building-centered program providing a safe, affordable place for young people during non-school hours and during the summer.  They are led by paid, trained youth development professionals. 

BGCMSSC has had tremendous success and a strong track record as the After School Educational Safety program (ASES) provider for Petaluma City Schools and Sausalito Marin City Schools.  The BGCMCCS would provide after school programs in the Arts, Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Health and Life Skills, Education and Career Development and Character and Leadership Development.

“Proactively addressing drugs and alcohol in our schools is of paramount importance to us,” commented Dr. Shalee Cunningham, NUSD Superintendent.  “It isn’t enough to identify and provide resources to students; we also need to provide a safe place where they can go.”