CLEARLAKE — A potentially lifesaving group of 18 people from law enforcement, education, government and community organizations met Wednesday to plan a schedule of action.
The representatives from Team DUI decided its first presentation will be Oct. 30 at Pomo Elementary School in Clearlake.
The countywide education program is designed to raise the awareness of the consequences and dangers of driving under the influence through prevention with the youth of the community, according to founder Judy Thein.
Speakers give presentations to teenage students throughout the county school districts on how driving under the influence affected their lives.
The group met for about 90 minutes at the Orchard Park Assisted Living Community Meeting Room in Clearlake.
Because of the large class sizes at Pomo Elementary, the representatives decided to split the separate presentations to the seventh- and eighth-grade classes into four presentations on different days.
The Oct. 30 presentation will be for the Pomo Elementary seventh-grade class. The eighth-grade presentation will be set at its next meeting.
While debating about presentation dates for 12 other county schools, Pat Iaccino, superintendent/principal of the Upper Lake Union High School District, said decisions should be put on hold until after the November election to prepare for any possible school year reductions if state propositions aimed at providing funding to school districts fail to pass.
The group agreed to decide on dates for the remaining schools at its next meeting.
Thein asked the group about new speakers to keep the presentations interesting.
Suggestions ranged from inmates serving time for DUI, medical staff from the hospital emergency rooms and teens whose lives were affected by alcohol.
California Highway Patrol Officer Kory Reynolds said a fellow officer is working on updating the program”s DVD it shows at presentations because it is outdated.
The program is also looking at purchasing its own equipment for its presentations so each one does not have to rely on different equipment at each school.
Thein asked for outreach suggestions from the group.
One idea was to create a pledge card that parents and teens could carry with them as a reminder that could also have important resource phone numbers on the back for assistance.
Another idea consisted of creating a flier that could answer some frequently asked questions related to teens and alcohol.
Stephanie Green, Lakeport Police Department school resource officer, said a countywide emergency phone number could be set up similar to the one in place within the Lakeport Unified School District.
Green said students and parents can call the line if they have something they want to share or to gain a resource, though callers are encouraged to dial 9-1-1 if the situation is serious.
Green said calls don”t come in every day, though students know “they can come to someone they know on campus” to discuss a problem.
Iaccino said he would speak with Wally Holbrook, County Superintendent of Schools, about the feasibility of creating an emergency phone number for students countywide.
Other outreach suggestions included utilizing the program”s Facebook page to reach students by offering incentives such as small scholarships, grants and other rewards.
The District Attorney”s Office recently contributed $500 to the program, and the Clearlake Rotary Club donated funds toward purchasing new equipment.
The program representatives will next meet at 9 a.m. Nov. 29 at Upper Lake High School.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
