Pubdate: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 Source: Athens Banner-Herald (GA) Copyright: 2009 Athens Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.onlineathens.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1535 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) OCONEE HAS WORK TO DO ON DRUG-TESTING POLICY The first clue for the Oconee County Board of Education that it might not want to establish a drug-testing policy for some high school students is the fact that it takes three single-spaced typewritten pages to delineate that policy. The Oconee school board is scheduled to vote Monday on a random drug-testing policy for participants in the school's athletic programs and for students who drive to school. Such a policy isn't necessarily a bad idea; cogent arguments can be made that deterring student-athletes and young drivers from drug use will protect those students from harming themselves and others. The policy does, however, raise a basic question of fairness. If, as stated in the proposed policy, a goal of the initiative is to "encourage students to remain substance-free and establish appropriate habits at an early age," why are Oconee school officials limiting the random testing to just two categories of students? Isn't it possible, for instance, that Oconee County and North Oconee high school marching band members, whose practice sessions involve physical activity, pose a danger to themselves and others if they are under the influence of drugs? And wouldn't the two schools have an interest in, say, deterring their science club members from using school laboratory facilities while under the influence of drugs? If a stated goal of the policy is to encourage "substance-free" lifestyles, why wouldn't both schools be intent on subjecting every student to random drug tests? Beyond those general questions, there are several specific sections of the policy that should be a cause for concern for Oconee school board members. For example: - - The policy calls for the toxicology lab performing the tests to do a monthly random drawing from a combined pool of student-athletes and students with campus parking permits. Thus, it's possible - maybe not probable, but possible - that one or the other of the student groups delineated for testing might not be subjected to any random drug testing. If the policy is going to target two specific groups of students, both groups should be regularly tested. - - With regard to the random drawing, the policy notes that "(u)pon selection (for testing), a school administrator will review the student's class schedule to determine the least disruptive time to remove the student from class for testing." Clearly, this provision of the policy creates the possibility for some mischief, if the responsible administrator is so inclined. For instance, if it happens that a star athlete is selected for testing immediately prior to an important game, it's possible that "the least disruptive time to remove the student from class for testing" might be after the game. If drug testing is important to the school system, it ought to be of sufficient importance to not worry about disrupting a student's day. - - The policy, quite properly, gives students and parents an opportunity to challenge its application. Specifically, the policy reads that if "a student believes this policy has not been applied to him/her in a manner consistent with the intent, the parents/guardians may petition the principal of their school regarding the outcome within 72 hours of a positive test result. The principal's decision in this matter shall be final." In other words, any parents who can sufficiently intimidate a principal - perhaps by threatening to hire an attorney to embroil the principal and the school district in legal action - could, in effect, get the policy overturned as far as their child is concerned. If the Oconee County Board of Education is intent on instituting a drug-testing policy, it clearly has some more work to do to craft a policy that is fair to all students, can't be circumvented by administrators, and can't be rendered moot by overbearing parents. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D