Pubdate: Tue, 01 Mar 2005
Source: Salisbury Post (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Post Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.salisburypost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/380
Author: Steve Huffman, Salisbury Post
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

GAUGING SUPPORT FOR STUDENT DRUG TESTING

South Rowan Principal Ron Turbyfill said he's looking forward to tonight's 
meeting to discuss a proposed program for random drug testing of students.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. in South's auditorium.

"Whether we have 10, 100 or a thousand (at the meeting), I really don't 
know," Turbyfill told members of the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education 
during their monthly work session Monday night.

He outlined the proposed drug plan for board members, and said tonight's 
meeting will serve to gauge community backing -- or opposition -- to the 
testing.

"I intend to get some indication from the crowd of their support of this," 
Turbyfill said. "This is not put in place. This is a proposal."

According to Turbyfill, the plan would only affect students who purchase a 
school parking permit. By so doing, students would agree to random drug 
testing.

Turbyfill said five students a month would be selected at random to be 
tested for drugs and alcohol. Students who test positive would lose their 
parking permits for 90 days, the same punishment they'd face if they 
refused to be tested.

Turbyfill said members of the school improvement team support the random 
drug tests. "We see a lot of merit," Turbyfill said. "We also see that in 
order for it to be effective, it needs support."

At tonight's meeting, community residents may share their opinions about 
the drug testing proposal.

At the end of tonight's meeting, Turbyfill plans to ask one member of each 
family to stand if that family supports the tests. He'll then give those 
who oppose random drug tests the chance to stand.

Turbyfill said community feedback will go far toward determining whether 
the school implements the program. He said he'd also like the support of 
the school board.

"I'm not interested in going where this board doesn't want to go," 
Turbyfill said.

As of Monday, he'd only heard from one parent about the proposal, and that 
parent adamantly opposes the idea.

"I invited him to come to the meeting and state his opinion," Turbyfill said.

He admitted he was surprised by the lack of feedback.

"I figured my office would be full this morning," Turbyfill said, noting 
that he'd sent letters home regarding tonight's meeting.

He said he'd discussed the proposed testing with school board attorney Don 
Sayers, who said the program is probably legal. Turbyfill noted that if 
someone chose to challenge the drug testing in court, Sayers would have to 
defend the schools.

On Monday, board members seemed to favor the testing. Several have in the 
past spoken in favor of random drug testing of students.

Board Vice Chairman Dr. Jim Emerson asked Turbyfill about the cost of the 
program. Turbyfill said the tests would cost about $1,250 annually. He said 
he might ask the school system for funding, though he emphasized he wasn't 
doing so Monday.

"I'm not asking for money tonight," he stressed.

Board Chairman Sharon Deal said she wouldn't want to discuss funding such 
testing until the matter had been more thoroughly discussed.

She noted that if the board agreed to fund South Rowan's drug tests, the 
system would be largely responsible for paying for all schools that 
implement similar testing.

"It kind of puts us in the position of paying for everyone," Deal said.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager