Krahenbuhl puts grant money to good use in Hudson schools

• From left, Tucker Malecha, Casey Fall, Adam Yoerg, Dana Krahenbuhl and Tori Hornung

Dana Krahenbuhl also serves as one of the advisors to the HHS Peer Helpers and works with students on a variety of other projects. Pictured from left are Tucker Malecha, Casey Fall, Adam Yoerg, Krahenbuhl and Tori Hornung. Submitted photo
• Flip It Forward leaders

Dana Krahenbuhl is coordinating the Flip It Forward initiative, an ambitious project that seeks to make positive connections with every student and teacher at HHS. Pictured is the first group of Flip It Forward leaders. In front from left are, Kaitlyn Young, Shea Van Gelder, Brett Ducharme, Camden Droppo, Sirena Thaovangsoua, Mary Lesher, Ashleigh Shirley, Alicia White and Krahenbuhl; second row, Wendy Langer, Patti Mueller, Karl Wertheimer, Mitch Beinlich, Sarah Krier, Dane Rudy, Miranda Faughn, Mckenna Selissen, Julie Whittaker, Sara Iacobeloo, Kayla Erickson, Katie Theilman, Linsey Frank and Kelsey McBride; third row, Sarah Langer, Rachel McCarthy, Abby Duerst, August Jorgensen, Emma Dunn, Bridget Donahue, Abby Patterson, Mike Wright, Laurel Cannon, Randy Yang, Mackenzie Gerands, Casey Fall, Allison Johnson, Lawrence Pruitt and Ryley Jurek; fourth row, Miles Lewis, Wade Malecha, Cassandra Phillips, Sam Satnan, Breyln Bolf, Rylie Ferguson, Don Clark, Tucker Millett, Alex Burgess, Eli Baumgarnter, Karlye Peterson, Alex Shonkwiler and Laura Martin. Submitted photo

Talk about it

In the nine years Dana Krahenbuhl has been with the Hudson School District, she has written or co-written grants that have brought near $250,000 into district. The most recent was for $15,000 from the Department of Public Instruction. Hudson was one of only 43 districts across the state to receive the grant.

Krahenbuhl is the district’s Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinator. While she deals directly with the use and abuse of drugs among students in Hudson’s secondary schools, she is just as involved in efforts to improve of the lives of students as a way to prevent use and abuse from ever starting.

Krahenbuhl says the hardest part of her job is dealing with a topic that is always difficult to talk about, especially with families. “This is a deeply imbedded issue in a lot of families. In many cases parents don’t want to know that their athlete or their high achiever has a problem but it is something that has to be faced. We try to help them do that. We do not place blame but try and help students and their families find the best way to function.”

Krahenbuhl said drug and alcohol use by adolescents in the Hudson Schools is similar to other schools its size in the area. She says there are cycles to it and the drug of choice changes over those cycles. While methamphetamine and Ecstasy use was a big concern at one time, it appears its prevalence has declined. Marijuana use has grown over the years and most recently there has been an increase in the abuse of prescription drugs and synthetics like “bath salts.” And alcohol use continues to be an issue.

Krahenbuhl said the most recent development is students using alcohol and other drugs in public spaces. “We have had kids come to athletic events under the influence, seemingly not caring if they get caught. There’s no quick fix to a problem like this but we are working with these kids and their parents not to give up.”

Krahenbuhl believes that dealing with students with AODA issues is critical while they are in school. “It really is the perfect time while they are still living at home, under your roof and needing your resources. That’s when we can work together and help their child.”

With this most recent grant, Krahenbuhl and the administration are making their most reaching effort to help students avoid the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs and to recognize, despite common perception, that “not everyone is using all the time.”

Krahenbuhl says peer pressure can sometimes be used as an excuse. “Sometimes it is more about self-pressure, using alcohol to feel good about themselves in situation where they don’t.”

Flip It Forward is a big part of that effort. Student leaders are trained in a series of exercises geared at breaking down the social barriers between students from different groups. Through questions and statements students reveal things about themselves in a safe setting without fear of being judged or harassed, making connections with students they might otherwise never talk with or know.

Hundreds of HHS students have already participated in Flip It Forward and the initial reviews have been positive according to Krahenbuhl. “We’ve seen it break down barriers between kids and that will not cut down on bullying and harassment. But when kids can be honest about who they are, whether they are goths, jocks, band geeks, whatever, it builds self-confidence and trust. That’s not easy in a school of almost 1,700 but it’s beginning to make a difference.”

Krahenbuhl said the district will also be working with Hudson Hospital and St. Croix County Health and Human Services on a program called KnoW Alcohol. It is designed for students who are having difficulty with alcohol use or who simply want to learn more about it in an effort to gain greater awareness of the issues alcohol use raises. “It isn’t about preaching no use but rather getting awareness and earlier identification of high risk students and high risk behaviors.”

Krahenbuhl’s other efforts include serving as one of the advisors to HHS Peer Helpers, facilitating an on-campus sober student support group, coordinating CounterAct drug and violence education program for fifth grade students districtwide, and FAST – Family and Schools Together, aimed at elementary school families involving four the district’s five elementary schools, and NicoTeen, aimed at tobacco addiction and control.

For more information about the programs mentioned above and others, contact Krahenbuhl at Hudson High School, (715) 377-3800.

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