OLD TOWN — The first day back to school after the weeklong February break brought some good news to area educators. A grant proposal aimed at arming a group of Penobscot County communities with conflict resolution skills has been approved by the state Office of Substance Abuse.

Conflict resolution emphasizes the use of nonviolent means to resolve disputes. It also promotes choice and alternatives when dealing with such concerns as drug use or dropping out of school.

Participating educators believe arming parents, school staff and others with conflict resolution skills will enable them to help children learn to make healthy decisions on their own.

Educators also hope the conflict resolution program will result in decreased dropouts, suspensions and drug use in their communities.

The $48,512 grant will fund a joint venture involving Old Town, Indian Island and the Union 90 member towns of Alton, Bradley, Milford and Greenbush, according to Patrica Kimball, chemical health coordinator at Old Town High School.

Kimball co-wrote the grant application with Pam Kimball, associate principal at the Lewis S. Libby School in Milford.

Both women belong to the River Coalition, a regional service group that conducted a comprehensive survey of area youths and adults. Much of the data the coalition collected was used to bolster the grant application.

The program will begin with a “train the trainer” program. The group will bring in professionals with conflict resolution expertise to train guidance counselors and at least two staff members from each participating school. Two students from each school that serves students in sixth grade and up also will receive training.

The trained students and staff then will help train the entire school community — teachers, coaches, custodians, bus drivers, administrators, school committee members, the local Drug Abuse Resistance and Education officer and the school and community liaison officer.

A special committee will be appointed to research and recommend a kindergarten through grade 12 curriculum with a parent component. The curriculum would address social skills, conflict resolution and drug and alcohol abuse prevention.

The local trainers then will conduct training sessions for parents, police and other interested people in the six communities. Child care will be provided at these community training sessions to allow for greater participation.

A group of students will receive training in peer mediation and then help devise a plan to continue peer mediation in the future.

In the year 2000, the River Coalition will conduct a follow-up survey of youths and adults in the six communities to assess what changes have occurred since the 1996 survey.