Pubdate: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 Source: Bradenton Herald (FL) Copyright: 2008 Bradenton Herald Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/contact_us/feedback/ Website: http://www.bradenton.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58 Author: Martin J. Gutfreund SCHOOLS HAD DRUG PROGRAM The comments by various elected school board members on receipt of a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to initiate a "trial" drug-testing program for athletes are troubling. Mr. Harry Kinnan said the board would authorize the hiring of a full-time person for this program, and then another elected board member voiced concerns about issues of "privacy" conducting the actual test collection protocols. The collective tone of comments from board members was one of "caution . . . go slow," as if the Board of Education was breaking new and unchartered ground in drug-free student programs. Over 10 years ago, the principal of Manatee High School and the head football coach received a recognition award during Red Ribbon Week for creating a drug-free football program. Both the principal and the coach applied the text of the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Business Against Drugs program and together they implemented a first-class drug-free plan for students. Did the School Board lose their copy of that excellent program? Next, having personally conducted dozens of "how to implement drug-free workplace" seminars for large and small businesses, I have never heard of a corporation or organization hiring a full-time person to implement drug testing and drug-free workplace policies. Managing a sound drug-free program is a basic responsibility of a competent human resource department. This is not a full-time job, even in the largest of corporations. With all the free "how to" information available, it's just not that difficult. So, how can our board of education and others be so unaware and or ill uninformed? For the past 19 years, the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce has provided the intellectual resources and skilled staff members to help interested parties implement sound drug-free policies and practices. Where has the board of education been for the last two decades? Martin J. Gutfreund Bradenton - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart