Pubdate: Sat, 17 Feb 2007
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2007 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Author: Jason M. Rodriguez, The Sun News

PROCESS FOR DRUG TESTING IN STUDY

Brunswick School Panel Gets Proposals for Monitoring Staff

BOLIVIA, N.C. - Two drug-testing firms presented proposals Friday to 
a Brunswick County, N.C., schools committee as a plan to randomly 
test school-system employees inches closer to being implemented by July 1.

The safe schools committee - composed of school board members and 
school system employees - heard from Whiteville, N.C.-based 
Southeastern Drug Testing Services and Wilmington, N.C.-based Castle 
Branch about urine and oral drug-testing techniques and costs.

The school system began looking at random drug testing for its staff 
in late 2006 after North Brunswick High School Assistant Principal 
Greg Morris was charged with possession of marijuana and indecent 
exposure while attending a school-related conference in Atlantic Beach, N.C.

Safe schools committee Chairman Charlie Miller, also a school board 
member, said he does not think many employees of the school system 
have drug problems.

"It's just the right thing to do for the safety of our employees and 
our kids," Miller said.

Half of the school system's 400 bus drivers are now randomly tested 
on a quarterly basis at a cost of about $35,000 annually, which 
includes testing all new hires.

If the board votes to randomly test staff, at a cost of $35 per 
person under Southeastern's plan, that total price tag could be 
between $55,000 and $60,000, school officials have said.

The school system has about 1,600 additional employees who would be 
subject to the tests. Only 10 percent would be randomly selected for 
the tests each school year under the proposal being considered. 
School officials estimate about 580 new hires would also be tested annually.

Alton Ray Melton of Southeastern said his company works with schools 
in Bladen and Columbus counties, as well as several community 
colleges. His proposal would test staff members' urine for the 
presence of drugs and could include alcohol for an additional cost.

He said his company can combine random testing with selective testing 
if the school system suspects someone of drug use.

"You have some who cannot help themselves," Melton said and added 
that the school system must have a policy in place that addresses 
positive drug tests. He suggested that those who test positive for 
drugs be treated as the state treats those with commercial driver's 
licenses who test positive: They are fired on the spot.

Miller said the board would develop a policy that would offer 
treatment options.

"There needs to be a step process," Miller said. "I want to offer 
some help if the tests come back positive. I want it as discreet and 
as private as possible."

Angela Gilbert, drug testing administrator for Castle Branch, 
presented a plan that uses oral swabs to test people for drug use. 
Unlike Southeastern, which would send a company representative to 
administer the test, Castle Branch would designate a school staffer 
to monitor the test.

"Who better to know when your teachers are available than your 
administrators," Gilbert said.

Gilbert, who said Castle Branch does not administer tests for any 
schools under the university level, said testing oral fluids can 
detect drug use within about an hour of use, whereas it takes four to 
six hours for urine tests to detect use on a drug test.

Under Castle Branch's plan, each urine test would cost $49 and each 
oral test would be $35. There would also be a charge for mileage 
expenses for the person who administers the urine test.

The safe schools committee did not finalize a recommendation on 
whether to suggest to the full school board that random tests should 
be implemented. The committee is scheduled to meet again March 1.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine