Pubdate: Tue, 10 May 2005 Source: Star-News (NC) Copyright: 2005 Wilmington Morning Star Contact: http://www.wilmingtonstar.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500 Author: Angela Mack Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) PENDER SCHOOLS TO DRUG TEST System Takes Lead In Area For Screening All New Employees Pender County Schools will be the first district in the area to drug test all new employees. In a unanimous vote Monday, the Pender County Board of Education approved a proposal that will require a pre-employment drug screening of all applicants that are offered jobs. Ted Kaniuka, Pender County Schools superintendent, said he's excited the district is able to implement this measure because it ensures that the most qualified employees are being hired to educate the county's children -- something parents will appreciate. Some parents lobbied to broaden the scope of pre-employment drug screening after the heroin overdose of a former Pender elementary school teacher last December. "We've been extremely fortunate to have no concerns about our teachers while they've been employed with us," Dr. Kaniuka said, adding that drug testing will boost the level of confidence parents have in the school system. Changes to the district's 10-year-old drug and alcohol testing policy have been a topic of discussion in school board meetings since February. During the past month, the Pender school board randomly surveyed 42 teachers that were hired last school year to see if required drug testing would've deterred them from applying for jobs. Dr. Kaniuka said the survey showed a unanimous response that a required drug screening would not prevent teachers from wanting to work in the Pender County school district. He said he doesn't expect a decrease in the amount of people that apply for jobs next school year once the new measure begins. The pre-employment drug testing will cost the district about $30,000 to implement, Dr. Kaniuka said. The district hires about 100 new employees each year. Its previous policy required pre-employment and random drug testing of bus drivers and others who operate county-owned vehicles. The new policy will not extend random drug testing to other employees. In Brunswick County, a proposal to screen potential employees for drug use has been discussed in the district's recent human resource committee meetings. John Michaux, executive director of human resources for Brunswick County Schools, said the committee has incorporated funds in its 2005-06 budget proposal to add the measure but has not submitted a revised policy to the county's school board. New Hanover County Schools officials said there are no plans to change the system's policy. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth