Service clubs, police search for positive teen programs

Ashland Service Clubs for Healthy Choices — a group that is working to add more positive support for teens in town — conducted a survey earlier this year to try and define what Ashland needs to best serve its teens. Half of Ashland High School's freshmen say there is enough for them to do in Ashland, while 40 percent believe youth are not valued in the community. Sixty percent of the freshmen said that Ashland needs a teen center, but city officials are not so sure.

The group is also working with city officials to consider forming a youth commission that would have the same standing as other city commissions or reestablishing a teen center. The police department also wants to reinstate the school resource officer, although funding for the position would disappear with any budget cuts.

Of the three options, Parks and Recreation Director Don Robertson said a teen center is the least likely.

"I'm a little skeptical that we have the base of teenagers that would make it sustainable," he said. Previous teen centers in Pioneer Hall and The Grove were discontinued because of lack of participation, he said, and the teen population has declined further since that time.

A better first step would be to create a teen commission and get their input on teen-centered parks programming, he said.

"I'm an old guy. It's hard for me to come up with all the right things for teens," he said. "If we're going to pursue more teen programs, it's nice to get their participation in developing those programs and promoting those programs."

A voice in the city

Eugene, Salem and Hood River have established their own youth commissions that could be used as a template for Ashland.

"We've got lots of good models to look at," said City Administrator Martha Bennett. "It's something that's been talked about in Ashland for a long time, but I think we're going to pursue it."

Although 80 percent of surveyed freshmen participate in Youth Activity Levy-sponsored activities at school, half still said they would like to see more opportunities. A youth commission could help discover what's missing, she said.

Like other city commissions, members would likely be appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council. Appointing both teens and adults on the commission and keeping it outside of the school district would give the group something real, said Graham Lewis, a Rotary Club member involved with the joint service club group.

"Then not only does it have the status of a commission with the city, it's got people on it that are recognized leaders, and the voices then become more legitimate," he said.

Superintendent Juli Di Chiro, who is also a Rotary Club member, said she had seen the positive impact of a youth commission when she worked in Santa Monica.

"It had a pretty strong voice, so it really did advise the city on all kinds of things related to youth issues," she said. "They really saw it as 'Hey, they're really listening to us,' and it gives them some influence on issues. I think that might be an exciting thing for kids in Ashland as well."

Inside schools

The police department's effort to get an officer back in the schools is in the same spirit of providing positive opportunities for kids.

"The idea is to engage the kids in healthy, proactive things and break down those barriers between ourselves and teenagers," said Police Chief Terry Holderness.

Several officers have served in Ashland's schools in the past, doing everything from teaching classes on date rape, civil rights or criminal justice to providing extra eyes and ears at football games and dances.

Officer Teri DeSilva said she formed long-lasting bonds with some of the students she got to know as a school resource officer from 1996 to 1998.

"We were a presence on campus, but also I took a on a counseling role so often, walking these kids through difficult situations that were going on in their lives," she said.

Di Chiro said previous officers on campus improved the relationship between youth and the police, and helped them deal more effectively with kids who make poor choices.

"We sorely miss that position," Di Chiro said. "When you have a school resource officer you have a consistent partner who knows the kids and can really be a strong partner with us."

Staff writer Julie French can be reached at 482-3456 ext. 227 or jfrench@dailytidings.com.