By Bob Sandrick
bsandrick@sunnews.com PARMA-About 50 people, young and old, went to City Hall on Monday to express their views and hear the debate on Operation Keepsake. The differing opinions were one reason why City council backed away from a resolution supporting the program, which encourages sexual abstinence among adolescents. Daniel Sparks, a Parma Senior High School junior, said Operation keepsake does teach young people how to make responsible and health decisions. However, Sparks said council would overstep its authority if it passed a resolution supporting the program. Sparks said the Parma City School District must decide whether it will continue using Operation keepsake. The district is in the process of doing so.
Further, Sparks said pupils need information on how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases if they choose to have sex. Sparks said he doesn't believe Operation Keepsake provides such information for those pupils. "They can't be ignored," Sparks said.
Horatio Lungo, a Parma resident, said more residents favor Operation keepsake than oppose it. Lungo said the program is needed because his son, a ninth-grader, was given a suggested school reading list that included a book with foul language. "The schools don't always do the the best job," Lungo said. "Sometimes they do need help."
Molly Smith, executive director of Cleveland Right to Life, favorably compared Operation Keepsake with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, which targets young people. Smith said there's a time when city officials should get involved with what's going on in the schools and this is one of those times. "We are in a position of leadership," Smith said. "If we can't lead our young people, shame on us."
Jelena Loncar, a Parma high school junior, said that when she participated in Operation Keepsake she didn't notice anyone benefiting from it. Loncar doubted the effectiveness of Operation Keepsake. She said there were more than a dozen pregnant girls in her school, despite the program. Loncar said her classmates didn't take Operation Keepsake seriously. "They say it's not relevant to the lifestyles many live today," Loncar said.
Ann Hanson, a Lakewood resident, said she has been in sexuality education for 25 years. Hanson said she taught a variety of programs, including abstinence-based ones, but she learned that more comprehensive approaches are the most effective. Hanson said children will make good life decisions if they are given honest and accurate information.
Monica Ols, a Parma resident, said children today are "bombarded" with sexually explicit materials through the media. That's why children need programs like Operation Keepsake, she said. "The only thing that works is abstinence before marriage." Ols said.
Council debates resolution to support abstinence program
By Bob Sandrick
Bsandrick@sunnews.com PARMA-A resolution supporting Operation Keepsake-a program that promotes sexual abstinence among adolescents-was placed on hold Monday by City Council's Public Safety Committee. Council members didn't agree whether the resolution was appropriate because Operation Keepsake is a program in the Parma City School District. The district is deciding whether to keep using Operation Keepsake. "I'm not against this (program) council President Charles Germana said. "I just don't think we should be bringing this to city council." Germana said the district's Board of Education, not city council, should decide if Operation Keepsake should remain a program in the schools.
However, Councilwoman Mary Buchholz Galinas, who sponsored the resolution, said it's appropriate for council to support Operation Keepsake because it's a program her constituents want. "I thought it was a no-brainer." Galinas said. "I guess I was naïve to think that way." The public safety committee didn't take action on the resolution because two of its members-Brian Day and Ken Ramser-were absent. Galinas, committee chairperson, said she wants to hear Day's and Ramser's opinions before the committee votes on the resolution.
Council's comments followed a presentation by Peggy Pecchio, executive director of Operation Keepsake. Pecchio said Operation Keepsake challenges young people to develop health relationships and strong characters while showing sexual restraint. Pecchio said Operation Keepsake encourages young people to graduate high school and attend college or vocational school before getting married and having children. The program works on goal setting, character development, maturity and self-sufficiency prior to marriage and parenthood, Pecchio said.
Pecchio said Operation Keepsake has been in the Parma schools for eight years. She said the program is in more than 170 schools in Greater Cleveland. Pupils don't have to attend Operation Keepsake sessions. It's a voluntary program, Pecchio said. Pecchio said the program doesn't replace curriculum but supplements it. The program is funded through private and federal grants, she said.
Pecchio said the preliminary results of a two-year study show that Operation Keepsake has a significant influence over how middle school pupils understand sexually transmitted diseases and risky sexual behavior. A six-month study is showing similar results for high school pupils. Pecchio said.
Galinas said she received several calls from constituents urging her and council to pass the resolution supporting Operation Keepsake. Galinas said parents are worried the schools will end their partnership with the program. Larry Napoli, a public safety committee member, said he supports the resolution. He said his children are products of Operation keepsake and that the program had a positive impact on them.
Galinas thought her other colleagues on council would agree but it didn't work out that way. Roy Jech, a committee member, said operation keepsake sounds great but he didn't think it was council's place to get involved in school programs. Jech said he also heard from constituents about the program but some opposed it.
Sean Brennan said he doesn't oppose Operation Keepsake but does oppose the resolution. "We're giving the wrong impression that city council has authority over school matters." He said.
