Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jul 2008
Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2008 The Honolulu Advertiser,
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/uXtrz8Lm
Website: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/195
Author: Barry Fukunaga
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n643/a09.html

LINGLE BELIEVES TESTING WILL BE RESOLVED SOON

The Advertiser's editorial on teacher drug testing points to the 
common goal of implementing the provision that was agreed to a year 
ago by the HSTA, Department of Education, Board of Education and the 
state, and which was ratified by teachers.

To grant a 30-day extension beyond the June 30 deadline would only 
prolong the implementation.

The DOE and BOE have focused on an unrealistic $500,000 
implementation price tag (not including the actual costs of the 
tests), which has since grown to include a bureaucracy of nine people.

The governor has asked BOE Chairwoman Donna Ikeda and DOE 
Superintendent Pat Hamamoto to look at implementation in a different context.

We know the majority of teachers are not using or selling drugs. That 
is why the random nature of drug testing is so important. The random 
component serves as a deterrent to let those who use or are tempted 
to use drugs know that on any given day, there's a possibility they 
can be tested.

Drug testing averages $35 per person. Randomly testing one out of 
every 100 teachers each year out of 12,000 statewide, comes to only 
120 teachers per year. The costs obviously are significantly lower 
than the DOE's estimates.

By focusing on the random element, rather than testing large numbers 
of teachers, implementation becomes more manageable, affordable and effective.

The governor is encouraged that the BOE chairwoman and DOE 
superintendent agree with this narrower approach, and believes this 
matter will be resolved expeditiously.

The Advertiser was incorrect to say the governor used withholding 
teacher pay raises as a threat. In fact, she said, "I don't want to 
make any threats."

Her goal is to implement random drug testing to give parents, 
students and teachers a level of confidence that their school campus 
is safe, so everyone can focus on educating our keiki.

Barry Fukunaga Chief of staff, governor's office
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom