Safe House program helps students make right choices

Brownsboro High School parents can rest a little easier during this year's prom thanks to the development of the Brownsboro ISD Safe House Program.

The Safe House Program is an online interactive tool developed to assist parents in the fight against drugs and alcohol. Parents register for the program by logging on to BISD's website at www.brownsboro.k12.tx.us/ and complete a contract agreeing not to allow parties in their home without parental supervision. A list of Safe House homes will be placed on the district's website for parents to view before allowing their students to attend parties.

The initial plan was to implement the Safe House Program online in connection with the introduction of the new Brownsboro ISD website. However, prom is scheduled for March 31 and the program will not be available online until the reconstruction of the district's website is complete April 2.

To have this tool available for parents in connection with prom, BISD Parental Involvement Coordinator Perry Eaton came up with a plan to assist parents in keeping their students safe on prom night.

"Prom is predominantly a time when students become vulnerable to the lure of unsupervised parties," he said. "We want to offer a tool to parents that will help keep our students safe."

Letters have been sent to parents encouraging participation in the program by mail and email.

"This will give parents a little heads-up where we can do something before prom," Eaton said.

Included in the letter packet is a description of the program, a Safe House contract, a student/ parent information form, and a letter from Henderson County Sheriff Ronny Brownlow endorsing the program. Parents are asked to mail or email their commitment to Eaton who will formulate a list to email to all responding parents.

After April 2, Eaton said the expanding list will be posted on the new BISD website to be updated weekly.

Parents are encouraged to participate in the program and to keep an open line of communication with their children about their expectations and values as well as with each other about specific parties.

"While parents should follow their own guidelines with their own children, all of us are responsible to maintain certain standards when other children are in our homes," Eaton said. "To serve or allow alcohol at gatherings for teenagers is unlawful, dangerous and unnecessary."

Eaton encourages parents to call parents who host parties to be sure they are aware that a party is planned, thus avoiding the "empty house party" phenomenon.

Although the school cannot ensure unsupervised parties will not take place in people's homes, participation in the program represents the parents ' commitment to one another.

For more information or to register for the Safe House Program, contact Eaton at 903-852- 3701, or by emailing him at eatonp@brownsboro.k12.tx.us.