Pubdate: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) Copyright: 2007 Journal Sentinel Inc. Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/submit.asp Website: http://www.jsonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265 Author: Laurel Walker Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) DRUG TESTING TURNS SCHOOLS INTO ENFORCERS; TREAD CAREFULLY Pewaukee School District officials are riding high on their student drug testing program, now in its third year, and they're spreading the news. Officials from Hamilton and Arrowhead School districts in Waukesha County and Cedarburg in Ozaukee County, all at various stages of considering a similar program, have turned to Pewaukee for information. Will they drink the Kool-Aid? "It's awesome," activities director John Maltsch said in describing Pewaukee's program. Each year Pewaukee tests 20% of its high school students in athletics or other activities - a total of 100 in each of the first two years and 130 this year because, contrary to one opposing argument, participation in athletics and other activities has increased even as its high school population dropped a bit, Maltsch said. There were three positives the first year, five last year and none so far this year. A waste of money? At $30 a test, he said, the deterrent tool is darned well worth it. The first few testing periods brought some student angst, but the routine is apparently old hat now. An off-site computer generates the ID number of 13 students each time. Maltsch matches numbers with names, calls each individually to the office, "puts them at ease" and sends them to the nurse, who hands out and collects a urine cup. With each test, Maltsch notifies parents, who have been overwhelmingly supportive, he said. When the lab finds a positive, a physician contacts the parents. The school is notified and imposes the sole penalty - missed athletic games or events. That's it. Police aren't contacted. There's no suspension or restriction from practice. But there's also no school counseling or educational response triggered. That's left between parent and physician, Pewaukee Superintendent Marty Van Hulle said. I've never been a fan of school drug testing. It focuses entirely on students most engaged in school yet legally can't reach those uninvolved in activities and most prone to risky behavior. It can leave parents, who need to be the front-line educators and role models for their kids, off the hook. Like the popular trend of putting cops in school hallways, drug testing makes schools, which should be intent on prevention through education, more enforcer than educator. Judging from the federal government's full-throttle push - announcing Friday that $1.6 million in student drug testing program grant money is now up for grabs - more districts may be joining Pewaukee, part of a distinct minority in Wisconsin. Nearby, Janesville ended its testing program; Oconomowoc considered but rejected one. Nationwide, some districts in the country have lumped student drivers who park at school into the testing pool - an idea that has caught Arrowhead Superintendent David Lodes' attention. He said Arrowhead administrators are just starting to collect information and he will ask the School Board's Policy Committee March 22 if they should continue. Wednesday night, the Hamilton School Board will have a one-hour presentation and study session beginning at 6 p.m. to learn all it can about the idea. If nothing else, board members, administrators and parents should take their time. Don't chug the Kool-Aid. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom