• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Plan Draws Mixed Response: Some Parents Object to Testing Students in Extracurricular Programs for Drugs

Posted on: Saturday, 20 May 2006, 06:02 CDT

By Harry Franklin, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.

May 20--Random drug testing of students has captured the attention of the Harris County School Board and is drawing a mixed reaction from parents.

The board's proposal to conduct random drug tests of students in grades 7-12 who are involved in extracurricular activities or have a parking pass at the high school was aired for the public at a Thursday night hearing. More than two dozen parents showed up to hear about the proposal.

About 700 of nearly 1,500 students at Harris County High School would be included in the drug-testing pool, but the number of Carver Middle School students has not been determined, school officials said. Each drug test would cost the school district about $27, officials said. The program could cost up to $23,000 the first year, depending on the testing program chosen. The proposed 2006-07 general fund budget includes $10,000 for the program.

The school council at Harris County High School recommended drug testing after surveys of students indicated drugs are being used by high school students.

The school system would contract with a private firm to do the testing, and those tested would be chosen in a random, computerized procedure.

Superintendent Susan Andrews and Harris County High School Principal Roger Couch said the current approach to drug use is punitive. When students are found with drugs at school, law enforcement is notified and the school also takes action. But the drug-testing program would be designed to help students who test positive overcome the problem through counseling and other measures. After second or third positive tests, students would be barred from participating in extracurricular activities for a period. Activities include sports and all types of clubs and organizations.

Couch said 60-70 percent of students see drugs used while they are in high school.

Sheriff Mike Jolley and Probate Judge Martha Hartley both said they support the proposal. Hartley said she sees it as a health and safety issue. She said people would be surprised how many young people from good families have had problems with alcohol or other drugs.

"Choices have consequences," Hartley said. "These are not mistakes these kids make. They are choices."

Jolley said the program would be good for the schools and keep them ahead of most systems in trying to address illegal drug problems.

"In talking with other school systems, such as Muscogee and Talbot counties, we are much better off," Jolley said. "This is one thing that could help keep us there."

Police could be called

Citizen Tim Edgar said he isn't sure how he feels about drug testing students. He said teachers, faculty and staff are not in a drug-testing pool.

"I suggest that's a place to start," he said. "How bad is the problem? Is it getting worse? Is it the same as the last 30 years?"

He and other speakers expressed concern about confidentiality.

"I'm not sure it's clear who would know," he said. "The fewer people that know the details, the better."

Andrews said the first to be notified if a student tests positive for illegal drugs would be the parents, then school officials.

"Law enforcement would not be called on a random test," Andrews said. "But if 'pot' falls out of a pocket, we do call."

Parent Larry Willis of Waverly Hall said he isn't sure the right thing to do after a third offense is to take students out of extracurricular activities that keep them occupied.

"Should we take that $20,000-plus for drug testing and use it for education?" he asked. "Should there be a committee to monitor the testing by race, gender and other categories? Gender and race should be released to the community to show it is fair. I don't think the system should continue to pay for drug testing. If a student tested positive, parents should continue to pay for follow-up drug tests if they want their child to continue in a sport."

Willis and others expressed concern about the continued cost to the school board for drug tests, saying it will be expensive and could lead to tax increases.

Board Chair Diane Sandifer asked whether students should be removed from extracurricular activities or be given additional chores, such as weekend duties, to discourage drug use.

Could begin in fall

Other issues raised or points made by speakers included:

-- How effective are random drug tests in reducing drug use by students? Rick Valentine with the Georgia Department of Human Resources said he has seen reports that they are not very effective. But Andrews said later she has seen reports that a test of a large number of students at the first of the school year may show 3-5 percent of students using drugs, with the percent testing positive dropping to 1 percent after the program has been in place awhile.

-- Why are the rest of the students not being tested? The U.S. Supreme Court has held that random drug-testing of all students in a school is illegal, officials said. But the court has ruled students can be tested who voluntarily participate in school athletics and other programs.

-- When would the program begin? Andrews said if the board approves drug testing, an education program for students and parents would probably be required during the first semester next fall and implementation might be in January.

-- What is being done to curtail drug use? School officials said they will continue to have periodic checks for drugs using drug dogs and are talking with the sheriff about bringing back a fifth-grade anti-drug education program to replace the DARE program. The sheriff said it could cost his office $100,000, but might be feasible with the school district sharing the cost.

Andrews said she was pleased with the public response at the hearing, that it gave board members many things to consider. She said the board will continue the discussion later and some changes in the proposal are likely to be recommended.

Contact Harry Franklin at (706) 571-8521 or hfranklin@ledger-enquirer.com [mailto:hfranklin@ledger-enquirer.com]

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

More News in this Category