Pubdate: Wed, 18 May 2005
Source: Daily News Transcript (MA)
Copyright: 2005 of CNC and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems, Inc
Contact:  http://www.dailynewstranscript.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3501
Author: Jon Brodkin
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

ROMNEY DRUG TEST PLAN FOR SCHOOLS DRAWS MIXED REACTIONS

The Framingham School Department will consider testing high school students
for drugs under an optional program proposed by the Romney administration
this week, Superintendent Chris Martes said yesterday.

"I think we'd look closely at it. If we believe this is helpful, which it
could very well be, (the district may test students for drugs)," Martes
said.

Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey on Monday proposed testing students for drugs if their
parents consent to the tests. Under the plan, the state would provide
$20,000 to each school district that chooses to pursue the drug testing, and
another $80,000 for substance abuse counseling.

Kids who fail drug tests would not be subject to legal action, said Michael
Botticelli, the Department of Public Health's assistant commissioner for
substance abuse services. Instead, they would be linked to counseling and
treatment.

"These are going to be part of a comprehensive school-based program. They're
not meant to be punitive," Botticelli said.

Martes said he wants to see more details of the administration's proposal.

"I don't see (high school drug abuse) as a large problem, but it doesn't
have to be a large problem for us to look for remedies," he said. "We'll
have our principals taking a look at this over the next few weeks."

New Bedford and Salem are the only school districts in the state that have
approached the administration about a new drug-testing program, Botticelli
said.

Ashland High School Principal William Sangster said he won't propose testing
kids for drugs.

"I wouldn't consider it, unless it was something the School Committee and
superintendent, after feeling the pulse of the community, felt it was
something that was necessary," Sangster said.

Natick School Committee Chairwoman Diane Packer said she hasn't looked into
the Romney drug-test plan. "The School Committee has not talked about it, so
we would not have an opinion on it at this point," she said.

Officials at several other school districts, including Wellesley,
Marlborough, Milford and Franklin, could not be reached for comment.

The administration's drug-testing proposal, unveiled as part of a larger
plan to combat substance abuse, has raised concerns about potential
invasions of privacy.

"It's not clear to me a parent can require a kid to be tested in a school in
this way," said Sarah Wunsch, a staff attorney for the American Civil
Liberties Union of Massachusetts.

Botticelli said the parent-consent requirement should allow the program to
clear any legal hurdles.

Martin Cohen, president of the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation,
said Monday he doubts many schools in the area will use Romney's new drug
testing plan.

Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School already has a testing program
in which students are tested when an administrator has a "reasonable
suspicion" they are using drugs or alcohol, said Principal Mary Jo Nawrocki.
The school has a zero tolerance policy because of potential safety hazards
related to equipment used in vocational classrooms, she said.

Nawrocki said she wouldn't consider adopting Romney's new drug-testing
proposal.

"I would stick with what we have right now," she said. "It works very
effectively for our school system." 
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MAP posted-by: Josh