'15 Minutes' program at Casa stirs controversy

April 26, 2006

By DAN JOHNSON
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Some students were crying, and others witnessed in stunned silence during a simulated car crash and emotional personal testimonies at Casa Grande High School April 5 and 6.

These juniors and seniors were witnessing Every 15 Minutes, a program that received considerable praise for dramatically teaching students about the dangers of driving recklessly and under the influence of alcohol and drugs, although a group of 16 student participants claims many administrators and faculty members didn't support the program and attempted to sabotage it.

An excerpt from a letter they wrote to teachers and staff members states, "... rather than support it like any other school-sponsored activity, they chose to undermine it. Through their ignorance, these teachers made the jobs of our volunteers incredibly difficult by: refusing access to their classrooms, discouraging students from attending the (simulated) 'crash,' assembly or alternate program, and by belittling those students who were participating."

The students went on to assert that the staff members and teachers had no right to disrupt the program simply because they may have disagreed with it.

"I believe the students mainly were upset with a teacher who provided an official room for kids who didn't want to participate at all," said Ron Everett, the school's principal. "But I received the letter two days before spring break, and I haven't had a chance to talk with them about it. They expressed some sincere thoughts, and I plan to speak with them this week."

Everett believes that the school took sufficient precautions for the program.

"For the most part, the program was voluntary," he said. "But because Casa Grande students were involved in three different serious accidents in the fall, we provided counselors in the library and an alternative program in the multi-use room."

Everett says he understands why people laud the program's compelling, constructive messages, but also sees why others are disturbed by the scary images, particularly because the school has suffered recent accident fatalities.

"We tried to meet the needs of all our kids, but our counselors told me that we can never know how such a program will impact students," he said. "For those who knew the students who were killed, it was especially powerful and moving, and I understand that for some of them it might have been too emotional."

The program has been controversial at Casa Grande ever since it was slated to take place four years ago.

"The school was scheduled to have an Every 15 Minutes Program in 2002, but it was canceled after 31 teachers signed a petition against it, saying it would be too traumatic," said Richard Sharke, an event organizer and executive director of the McDowell Drug Task Force. "So, I wrote a letter to the district superintendent and school principal about the value of the program."

It took place in 2003, although some teachers voiced their disapproval.

"This year, 20 teachers told their students participation was optional, and one didnÕt allow them to take part at all," Sharke said. "The program is very effective, though."

In response to the students' letter, Thomas Griffin, an English, mathematics and science teacher at Casa Grande, wrote a reply in which he criticized the event for upsetting students.

"It is highly unlikely that all of these students posed a significant risk of reckless or drunken driving -- in fact, it is quite likely that the vast majority of those students were at no risk at all of engaging in those types of activities. And yet, the Every 15 Minutes activity forced all of these undeserving people to endure significant pain," he wrote.

Griffin denied program volunteers access to his classroom, but stated that he didn't belittle his students who participated, and encouraged all of them to take part in the way that was best for them, whether this be attending the crash and assembly, going to alternative programs or seeing counselors in the library.

In their letter, the students thanked staff and faculty members who supported the program. They praised it for effectively teaching them about the dangers of drinking and restless driving.

The Every 15 Minutes program, conducted by the Petaluma Police Department's Traffic Unit, is derived from the fact that in the early '90s, someone in the United States died in an alcohol-related collision every 15 minutes. Participating students were challenged to think about drinking and driving, and learned about speeding and driver's license requirements.

At 10:30 a.m. of April 5, a simulated traffic collision took place on Juliet Drive, adjacent to the school, and rescue personnel treated "injured" student participants. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics and the county Coroner's Office came to the scene. A California Highway Patrol helicopter airlifted "injured" occupants.

At 10 a.m. the following day, a student assembly was held on the campus. Students, parents, emergency personnel and families that have lost relatives addressed the students, creating a highly emotional atmosphere.

A video focused on Brett Callan, a former Casa student who was killed in an car accident near the Hicks Valley Fire Station on June 25, 2005. The Callan family spoke to the students, as did Joe Trombetta, a senior who was driving the car over 80 miles per hour when their son died.

(Contact Dan Johnson at djohnson@arguscourier.com)