Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 Source: Press & Sun Bulletin (NY) Copyright: 2000 Press & Sun Bulletin Contact: P.O. Box 1270, Binghamton NY 13902 Fax: (607) 798-1113 Feedback: http://www.binghamtonpress.com/contact/lettertoeditor.html Website: http://www.binghamtonpress.com/newsindex.html Author: George Basler SV BOARD DELAYS DRUG TESTING FOR A YEAR The Susquehanna Valley Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to call a time out on its controversial policy to drug test student athletes by delaying its implementation. The school board, by the same unanimous vote, also decided that the voters will have the final say on whether to begin any policy. A public referendum could come in February. The board's action came at the end of an intense discussion during which some members said the issue of drug testing student athletes continues to be an emotional one that is dividing the community. While not rescinding the policy that it approved in March, the board delayed its implementation from July 1 to July 1, 2001, to allow time for an independent survey on the extent of the school district's drug problem, and whether a testing policy is appropriate. "I feel we need to take a lot more time" to look at the issue, and part of that is an independent survey, said board member Mary Rader. The idea for the public vote came from board member Michael Bensley. "My quiet polling indicates there is still a heck of a divide in the community," he said. And the only way to heal this divide is to put a policy to a public vote, he added. A main reason the board delayed implementation is that the state has not approved the use of Safe and Drug Free Schools money for the testing. Without state funding, the district cannot implement the policy because the board has pledged not to use local tax money for the testing, said board President Sandra Ruffo. "We are not going to implement a policy without funding, and at the current time we don't have funding," she said. But some board members also said concerns have been raised about the policy, and the district has not done a good job in building support for it. Other board members agreed with Bensley. The board, at its reorganization meeting next month, will consider forming an ad hoc committee to look at an independent survey, Ruffo said. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck