Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jun 2003
Source: Shelby County Reporter (AL)
Copyright: 2003 Shelby County Reporter
Contact:  http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2949
Author: Fred Guarino
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES DRUG TESTING TO PARK

Over the objection of at least one parent, the Shelby County Board of 
Education recently approved a student parking privilege substance abuse 
policy and selected a drug test provider.

In the absence of board member Allen Rice, the 4-0 vote to approve a random 
drug test policy for students parking on school campuses came at the 
board's regular June 10 meeting.

Voting in favor of the policy were board president Dr. Lee Doebler, board 
vice president Steve Martin and board members Trey Ireland and Peg Hill.

According to an overview of the policy approved:

"It is the objective of the Shelby County Board of Education to assure that 
all students who wish to take advantage of the privilege of driving a 
vehicle on school property and parking a vehicle on school property be 
given the opportunity to do so in a safe, drug free environment, and that 
all students exercising the privilege of driving and parking on school 
property, be completely free of the effects of alcohol, and/or the presence 
of other illegal or controlled substances.

"In an effort to meet this objective, the board reserves the right to 
require any student desiring to drive a vehicle on school property and park 
on school property, be subject to and submit to random drug tests at any 
time while on school property, or participating in school sponsored events."

The board also voted 4-0 to continue its contract with Business Health 
Assessment for another year to provide all student drug testing at a cost 
of $15.50 per test.

Present to speak against the policy was Michele Zaragoza of Birmingham, who 
had written a letter expressing her objections to the board prior to the 
meeting.

Zaragoza stated that no letter was sent home with her daughter about the 
policy coming before the board.

She said her daughter does not participate in athletics or cheerleading at 
Oak Mountain High School, but she did not oppose drug tests of athletes or 
cheerleaders because the school system is responsible for those students 
off the school campus.

Zaragoza called a required waiver parents would be required to sign 
allowing urine, breath, hair and/or blood samples "an instrument of 
probable abuse."

As in her letter, she objected to blood samples being taken by persons with 
less than minimal nursing training.

She further expressed the view that as a taxpayer and parent, her daughter 
should be able to park at a tax paid facility without having to take a 
mandatory drug test.

Speaking for the test was Board Chief Clerk Sharon Lee, a parent of five 
children in the Shelby County School System.

She said, "We have drugs in our schools."

Lee said she wanted to commend the board for doing what it could to prevent 
and discourage drugs in schools.

Ireland called the policy "another reason to say no" to drugs.

Dr. Doebler expressed concern for a red flag raised by Zaragoza over blood 
tests.

However, School Superintendent Evan Major responded: "Under no 
circumstances will blood be drawn by a person not qualified."

He said he did not know of an occasion in which blood was taken but said it 
would be done at a clinic by medical personnel.

Student Services Coordinator Ken Mobley said parents would be notified.

While Major confirmed that random drug testing has been upheld by the 
Supreme Court, he reminded the public that as an alternative to parking on 
school campus, school buses run every day.
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MAP posted-by: Tom