Pubdate: Tue, 05 Dec 2006
Source: Beacon, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2006 The Princeton Packet, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.beaconnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3352
Author: Linda Seida, Staff Writer

DUG TESTING CONSIDERED AT SOUTH

Officials Are Holding Discussions With the Public About Random Drug 
Testing of Student Athletes, Those Who Drive to School, Park on 
Campus or Leave the Campus for Senior Privileges.

WEST AMWELL -- Not all parents want to begin random drug testing of 
students at South Hunterdon Regional High School, but many of the 
approximately 30 who attended a discussion last week expressed interest.

"Our concerns here are related to alcohol and marijuana," 
Superintendent Lisa Brady said. "Here and nationally, they are the 
most prevalent in terms of use."

The percentages of South Hunterdon juniors and seniors who have used 
alcohol and marijuana in the last 12 months are higher than the 
national percentage, according to a recent survey. At South, 83 
percent of 11th- and 12th-graders have used alcohol, compared to 69 
percent nationally. Fifty-six percent of 11th- and 12th-graders have 
used marijuana, compared to 34 percent nationally.

"The worst thing that can happen to you isn't finding out your kid's 
on drugs," Ms. Brady said. "The worst thing that'll ever happen to 
you is that you don't find out."

South has not instituted a random drug-testing program yet, but 
officials are holding discussions within the community about the possibility.

When Ms. Brady was principal of Hunterdon Central Regional High 
School in Raritan Township, the district began random drug testing in 
1997 of athletes. Random drug testing began of all students involved 
in an activity in 2000.

A panel of educators from surrounding school districts where random 
drug testing already is in use, including Hunterdon Central, was 
invited to answer parents' questions Nov. 28 in the school's cafeteria.

All of the panel's participants favored random testing, and parent 
John Franzini of Lambertville found that "distressing."

He said, "There ought to be another side to this issue. What concerns 
me is it's a one-sided dialogue."

Mr. Franzini said he is "very much opposed" to random testing.

"There isn't any dispute it needs to be dealt with," he said of drug 
abuse. However, "My issue is you need to deal with it in a positive 
way. I think you're sending the wrong message. Give them 
responsibility to learn responsibility."

Also, he said he believes random testing is against students' 
constitutional rights.

But if it came down to either signing a release that would allow his 
children to be tested so they could participate in extracurricular 
activities or not signing, Mr. Franzini said he knew what he'd have to choose.

"If I refuse to sign that paper, he doesn't get to participate," he 
said of his son. "I'm not going to do that to my child. I'm not going 
to break his heart. That's why I'm here now. This is where I think 
this battle has to be fought."

Parent Dana Kurtbek of Lambertville said she is "not 100 percent 
convinced, but I'm leaning toward it" because the specter of random 
testing would be an antidote to peer pressure.

"It will be a huge sense of relief," she said. "They'll get to say, 
'I can't, I might get tested.' When they were little, they could say, 
'My mom and dad won't let me.'"

Parent Dean Stephens of Lambertville also would support random testing.

"To me, it's not so much a legal issue," he said. "To me, it's an 
issue about keeping the good kids good. I don't think either one of 
my kids would have a second thought about going down and peeing in a cup."

Testing would not apply to the entire student body. Only students 
involved in clubs, sports or activities would be entered into the 
"testing pool."

Also subject to testing would be any student who drives to school, 
parks on campus or leaves campus for senior privileges.

At South Hunterdon, that could mean a testing pool of 300 students 
out of a student body of about 350, Ms. Brady said.

 From the testing pool, about 20 percent actually would be tested in 
a school year.

The tests would be conducted by "trained school personnel," according 
to the pamphlet distributed by the district; most likely the school 
nurse and the student assistance counselor. A positive test would be 
confirmed by a second test performed by an independent lab. Positive 
results would be forwarded to the school's student assistance 
counselor as well as parents or guardians. Results would be confidential.

Law enforcement would not be notified, and no punitive consequences 
would result, according to an explanatory pamphlet given out by the district.

A student who tests positive would be referred with his parents for a 
meeting with the counselor. Involvement in any school activity would 
be temporarily suspended.

"If you're running a good deterrent program, you should not have a 
lot of positive tests," Ms. Brady said.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine