Pubdate: Thu, 17 May 2007
Source: Herald News (West Paterson, NJ)
Copyright: 2007 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.northjersey.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2911
Author: Joseph Ax, Andrea Alexander And Jan Barry
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

RANDOM DRUG TESTS EXPANDING

River Dell and Lakeland regional high schools are  expected to adopt 
sweeping random drug testing programs  next week, joining a growing 
number of New Jersey  districts with similar policies.

Under the programs, any student who participates in a  club, plays 
for a team or has a parking permit at the  school is subject to 
testing for a variety of illegal  substances, including alcohol, 
marijuana, steroids,  cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines, among others.

At River Dell, that means between 85 percent and 90  percent of all 
high school students next year will be  required to sign consent 
forms permitting the random  tests, Superintendent Patrick Fletcher said.

Drug testing in schools is becoming more commonplace  across New 
Jersey, officials say. Approximately 20  districts have mandatory 
alcohol and drug testing  policies in place, according to New Jersey 
School  Boards Association spokesman Mike Yaple. That still  amounts 
to a small percentage of the 288 districts that  include high schools 
in New Jersey, he said.

The state athletic association already tests teams that  qualify for 
postseason play for performance-enhancing  substances.

Other North Jersey districts, including Fort Lee and  Kinnelon, have 
discussed testing programs.

The number of districts adopting policies has been on  the rise 
following a 2002 New Jersey Supreme Court  decision that upheld a 
district's right to test  students who join after-school activities, 
play sports  or park on campus -- all considered privileges that can 
be subject to conditions.

The River Dell and Lakeland programs are modeled after  policies in 
Pequannock High School and Hunterdon  Central Regional High School, 
which have survived court  challenges.

"I think at some point we are going to reach critical  mass where you 
are going to be the odd ball if you  don't do it," said David Evans, 
founder of the New  Jersey-based Drug Free Schools Coalition. "You 
are really putting your kids at risk if you are the only  school 
district in the county not doing it. Where are  the drug pushers going to go?"

The testing is not intended as a punitive measure;  instead, the 
program is meant to give kids a reason to  say no when offered 
alcohol or drugs, officials say.

Nevertheless, the policy has drawn concern from some  parents 
regarding privacy issues, even as other parents  have praised it as a 
way to lower drug use.

"Parents are split on this," said Lisa Belthoff, vice  president of 
the River Dell Regional High School  Parent-Teacher Organization.

Some students, however, say the new program represents  an 
unwarranted intrusion into their lives.

"A lot of people don't do drugs, and I don't think it's  fair that 
just because you do a sport or a club, you  have to get tested," said 
Marissa Arakelian, a River  Dell junior.

School officials say there is evidence that the tests  reduce drug 
abuse. Pequannock's voluntary middle school  program, for instance, 
has led to a drop in the number  of students who reported high or 
moderate drug and  alcohol use since the policy was instituted two 
years  ago, according to an anonymous survey.

There was also an increase in the number of students  who reported 
little or no drug use, said Pequannock  Valley Middle School 
Principal William Trusheim.

Hunterdon Central, meanwhile, saw drug use drop  slightly during the 
program's first three years and  rise again when the policy was 
suspended in order to  study its effect, according to a survey.

"I think students are sticking with the commitment not  to use," Trusheim said.

At River Dell, the decision to investigate a testing  program was 
prompted in part by an anonymous survey  that indicated students 
there were using alcohol,  marijuana and cocaine significantly more 
often than the  national average.

Each week, a computer will select five random  identification numbers 
that correspond to five  students. Those students will be 
accompanied, one at a  time, by an administrator of the same gender 
to a designated bathroom.

The student will provide a urine sample, which will  then be tested 
by a private facility. If it comes back  positive, the facility will 
test it a second time, and  if the positive test is confirmed, a 
medical review  officer will check with the student's parents to 
ensure  there is not an innocent explanation.

A first offense results in a two-week suspension from  activities, 
sports and parking and an assignment to a  counseling program. A 
second offense is a three-month  suspension. A third offense results 
in a one-year ban.  The program will cost approximately $4,000 a 
year, although federal grant money will pay for it for the  time being.

The Lakeland policy calls for 25 to 30 tests each week.  A positive 
test triggers a suspension from activities  and parking for 20 
percent of the year, while a second  violation results in a 
five-month suspension. A  yearlong suspension results from a third strike.

The River Dell school board is expected to approve the  policy on 
Tuesday; Lakeland trustees will likely  approve the policy next 
Wednesday. The board presidents  said that the members of each board 
have expressed  support for the proposals, which would take effect 
with  the start of the next school year; athletes at Lakeland  will 
start testing in August.

A few districts have adopted voluntary programs, in  which either 
students or their parents can give  permission for testing. Most 
districts that have  programs have chosen mandatory testing, however, 
in  order to reach more students, Evans said.

Wayne, for instance, has a voluntary program in 
place.  Eighth-graders are asked to sign up for drug testing  when 
they select their freshman year courses. Once  students sign up, they 
are enrolled in the program for  all four years of high school, said 
Schools  Superintendent Maria Nuccetelli.

About one-third of the freshman class participate. The  district 
hopes more students will enroll next year.

Correction

Thursday, May 17, 2007

The Lakeland Regional High School Board of Education is meeting 
Tuesday on its proposed drug testing policy. An article Wednesday 
reported an incorrect day for the meeting.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman