Pubdate: Mon, 26 Mar 2007
Source: Niagara Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 2007 Niagara Gazette
Contact:  http://www.niagara-gazette.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4174
Author: Jim Sperduti
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

NO EXCUSE FOR NO DRUG TESTING AT LEW-PORT

This letter is to the Lew-Port school board members. I  happen to be 
the father of one of the two fourth  graders who witnessed the drug 
use by a teacher at  Lew-Port and had to give statements to police 
investigators.

I am writing to let you know my displeasure at the  Lew-Port School 
Board for voting down on March 22 an  initiative that would have 
instituted drug testing at  the district. I also take issue with a 
few of the  comments I saw reported in the Gazette. As far as 
the  comment that the board is prohibited from drug testing  without 
probable cause . are you kidding me? How much  more probable cause do 
you need than cocaine 5 feet  away from 9-year-olds?

Also the comment that "I feel our district has  sufficient safeguards 
in place." Really? How are those  safeguards working out? I want to 
be civil, but that  statement would make the pre-k kids laugh.

I wanted to laugh too, but I find it difficult when my  intelligence 
is being insulted. The district apparently  has no problem bringing 
in drug sniffing dogs to search  students lockers, but of course they 
must skip the  teacher's lounge. I am not bashing the teachers, they 
do a great job and I'm sure the vast majority of them  would have no 
problem with drug testing. Although  publicly, they are held hostage 
by there own union  which would never agree to testing unless they 
got something in return, student's safety be damned. 
I  wholeheartedly agree with the board member who said  they should 
"vote their conscience" show a little  backbone, stand up for the 
students even if the state  or the courts shoots it down at least you 
did the right thing.

Niagara Falls has drug testing for their new hires.  That would be a 
start. If they can, why not us? From  banning chocolate Easter 
crosses a few years back to  this, it would be nice if Lew-Port could 
make the national news for something positive. Hiding behind  lawyers 
and throwing up your hands and crying "we can't  do anything" is not 
why you were elected, and it won't  be forgotten at the next election.

I am 43 years old and I have never in my life been 5  feet away from 
someone doing cocaine and yet my  9-year-old daughter is exposed to 
this in a supposedly  "drug free" zone at her school, where she is 
supposed  to be safe and secure. And all our school board can do  is 
bicker ... well done.

Finally there was a suggestion of drafting a resolution  to send to 
the state legislature supporting changing  the state law to be able 
to require testing. Well stop  talking and start drafting. Maybe 
there needs to be a  third special interest group at Lew-Port to go 
along with the "union" and the "no tax hike" groups. Maybe a  group 
of parents and citizens whose main concern is the  safety and well 
being of all the students, teachers and  administrators in the 
district. I hope that this  situation never happens again but in this 
day and age I'm afraid it might, and everybody who comes in 
contact  with an individual under the influence of 
illegal  substances will be at risk not just the students.

Also, if it is true that the board is "leaving it up to  two fourth 
grade girls to clean up the school" I will  be expecting my 
daughter's check from the district in  the mail.

Jim Sperduti

Lewiston
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman