Campaign flier was off-base with allegations about high school

I was shocked and appalled to see such a flagrant misrepresentation of facts as those described in a Manalapan campaign flier for Joseph Locricchio. To deliberately discredit an outstanding school district with misinformation is irresponsible. But to do so for political gain is reprehensible.

Although Mr. Locricchio has never visited Manalapan, talked to any school administrators or Board of Education members, his campaign literature claims Manalapan has "one of the worst drug problems in the county."

To make such a false statement about one of the best high schools in the county, as well as in the state, is not only untrue, it is negligent. Although Manalapan is certainly not drug free, it is far from having the "worst drug problem in the county."

Furthermore, Mr. Locricchio should realize that drug abuse is a community problem and not the exclusive problem of a high school.

His campaign flier also says that Manalapan does not have a full-time police officer at the school. Again, this is not true. In 1999, Manalapan became the first high school in the Freehold Regional High School District to employ a full-time resource officer.

Ironically, the only drug prevention program Mr. Locricchio endorses is the DARE program. Mr. Locricchio should check the facts. Current statistics indicate that while forging positive relationships with local law enforcement at the elementary school level, the program does very little to prevent drug usage.

Had Mr. Locricchio attended a FRHSD board meeting or actually visited the high school, he would have learned that the district has a stringent zero tolerance drug policy and operates a wide variety of effective education, prevention and intervention programs at all six of its high schools.

[FRHSD] staff are trained to detect student drug use and potential problems and student assistance counselors, employed at each high school, provide students and their families with appropriate assistance, counseling and referral services.

Patricia Horvath

President

FRHSD Board of Education

Manalapan