Pubdate: Wed, 20 Apr 2005
Source: Virginia Gazette, The (Williamsburg, VA)
Contact:  2005 The Virginia Gazette
Website: http://www.vagazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3760
Author: Paul Aron
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

VOLUNTARY DRUG TESTS CONSIDERED FOR WJC

JAMES CITY -- A top official with WJC Schools has suggested voluntary drug
testing for student athletes. That's a sharp departure from a parent task
force that wants mandatory testing for athletes.

The School Board assigned Stephen Chantry to have his department of Student
Services assess the situation. Speaking to the School Board Tuesday night,
Chantry stopped short of making any recommendation, but stressed that the
voluntary plan would let parents "retain responsibility" for drug
prevention so schools could focus on education.

The voluntary plan would also limit the cost to schools, since parents
would have to pay for the testing on their own.

The board deferred any decision, partly to hear what's said in a town
meeting the Historic Triangle Substance Abuse Coalition is planning next month.

School board member Ron Vaught said he favored mandatory testing, and that
he'd rather see no policy than a "watered-down version."

Board member John Alewynse said he hadn't made a final decision but leaned
against testing on civil liberties grounds.

"I want these kids to learn how to control themselves and take
responsibility [and] not govern their impulses on the basis of whether
someone's standing in the next stall," Alewynse said. "That's not the way
to teach."

Board members said they wanted more data about how testing has worked
elsewhere and about the extent of the drug problem here. Many criticized
the methodology of the Pride survey, which is administered every two years.

According to the 2003 survey, 10% of WJC middle schoolers and 33% of high
schoolers have smoked marijuana at least once. Those numbers were down
slightly from 2001.

Last semester, 12 students were caught with drugs at school.

Chantry stressed WJC already has substance abuse prevention services. These
include couseling and education, and partnerships with Bacon Street and
other organizations.

He raised questions about drug testing:

- - Is it the responsibility of WJC or the community, or both?

- - Is testing an effective deterrent?

- - Should testing be mandatory for all, or for select groups like athletes?
The Supreme Court has twice okayed testing for athletes.

- - Should it be mandatory or voluntary?

- - Should it be part of the required physical exam for sports?

If the School Board adopts voluntary testing, WJC's involvement would be
limited primarily to developing a plan and providing assurances of safety
and confidentiality.

Chantry also suggested a hotline where callers could report suspected drug
and alcohol abuse. That seemed to interest several School Board members.

During the public comment period before Chantry's presentation, parent task
force leader Sam Frye appealed to the board not to "dilute the program with
an alternative that doesn't get the job done."

Historic Triangle Substance Abuse Coalition director Gina Thorne said her
group was in the process of securing speakers to speak for and against
testing at next month's town meeting.

Members of the parent task force that first raised the issue of drug
testing originally hoped to have it in place next fall. That's increasingly
unlikely.

Still, Dee McHenry, a member of the task force and a leading proponent of
mandatory testing, said she was "encouraged" that the board was "open to
listening to experts" at the May meeting.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman