Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jan 2005 Source: Eagle-Tribune, The (MA) Copyright: 2005 The Eagle-Tribune Contact: http://www.eagletribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/129 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) DRUG TESTING PITCH SPLITS SCHOOL PANEL HAVERHILL -- Two School Committee members say they will fight random drug testing of Haverhill High students if it is recommended by a task force studying drug use at the school. Committee members Kerry Fitzgerald and Glen Lewandowski said they are against the testing proposed by Committeeman Scott Wood Jr. When discussing the proposal last night, the committee unanimously created the task force to study the drug problem at the high school, but stopped short of favoring random testing. "I don't support random testing," Fitzgerald said. "I would only consider (drug testing) for a student who started acting unusual or if there was a noticeable problem." Despite the opposition last night, Wood refused to take random drug testing off the table. "Looking away or pretending the problem doesn't exist doesn't help anybody," he said. "This is to weigh the pros and cons and determine the costs and benefits (of drug testing)." Wood said he proposed the task force and the random testing because he believes drug use is on the rise at the high school, based on his own knowledge and results of a student survey. His proposal calls for students in sports and after-school activities to be tested because the U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 gave that power to school districts. There is no case law on drug testing an entire student body, he said. Wood said he will begin assembling names of potential task force members immediately and report back to the committee with at least 10 names. He said he is looking for parents, students, teachers and law enforcement officials. Last night two Haverhill High student athletes said Wood's proposal targets the wrong students. Christine Fitzpatrick, 18, student council president and a captain of the swim team, offered this scenario: "You would ask a kid who gets A's and B's on their report card, is a member of student council and plays a sport to urinate in a plastic cup? That's degrading. I feel better that this is just a proposal, but I wanted to speak out immediately to nip it in the bud." Student Matt Plumb, a member of the track team, agrees with Wood that there is a drug problem at the high school. But he said the committee is targeting the wrong people. "Athletes and kids involved in after-school activities are not the ones doing drugs," he said. Wood, a 2002 graduate of Haverhill High, believes drugs like heroin, cocaine and Ecstasy are more available to students today than ever before. He said the 2003 Youth Risk Survey, which showed 49 percent of Haverhill High students said they have used marijuana and 17 percent have used drugs like heroin and cocaine, proves he is right. Fitzpatrick, the student council president, said students lie on the survey. "I don't believe the survey is reliable," she said. "We get a 21/2 page survey at 7 in the morning with questions like 'Have you ever shot up heroin or smoked crack?' The majority of kids think it's funny, lie on it and don't take it seriously." Committeeman Robert Gilman said the committee should let the task force investigate the extent of the drug problem and worry about "theoretical and constitutional issues" related to drug testing later if it is recommended. Committeeman Shaun Toohey praised Wood for bringing the issue to a head. He also suggested students may be just as likely to under-report drug use on the risk survey as they are to over-report it. Mayor James J. Fiorentini, who arrived at last night's meeting after the committee voted to form the task force, has said he has seen no evidence that drug use is on the rise at the high school. He also said the city does not have money to pay for testing. Wood said he believes the city could seek grant money to administer the tests. - ---