Pubdate: Tue, 06 Apr 2004
Source: Valley Independent, The (Monessen, PA)
Copyright: 2004 The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.valleyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2641
Author: Jeff Pikulsky
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

STUDENT DRUG TESTS DECLINES

School districts around Pennsylvania have cut back or stopped screening 
students for drug use both because of cost and concerns about legal 
ramifications.

A handful of districts, including Seneca Valley in Butler County, still 
require drug testing of students, especially those who participate in 
interscholastic sports.

But some officials have been rethinking their policies in light of the 
state Supreme Court's ruling last year that a desire to discourage drug use 
among students is not enough to justify "suspicionless" drug screening of 
parking-permit holders, student-athletes and participants in other 
extracurricular activities.

The ruling stemmed from a challenge of a similar policy by some parents in 
the Delaware Valley School District. The justices turned down the Delaware 
Valley School District's attempt to have a lawsuit in Pike County 
dismissed, meaning that a legal challenge seeking to block the testing can 
proceed.

Since the ruling, the Franklin Regional and Canon-McMillan districts have 
stopped drug screening for student athletes and students who drive to school.

The high court ruling led the Franklin Regional School District to end its 
random drug testing program before it was a year old, Superintendent Pamela 
Pulkowski said.

Belle Vernon Area once screened every athlete and cheerleader for steroid 
and recreational drug use. But at $100 apiece, the tests became too 
expensive for the school district, which now randomly tests 5 percent of 
its cheerleaders and athletes, athletic director Jim Bush said.

The district hasn't considered modifying its policy since the state Supreme 
Court handed down its ruling. While students haven't resisted the drug 
screening, a few have wondered why they were singled out.

That's why former football coach Gary Dongilli, once an advocate for Belle 
Vernon's drug testing policy, now thinks it was a bad idea.

"I'd never again advise a school system to do it," Dongilli said. "It 
became a political thing. There was supposed to be confidentiality with the 
testing, but there wasn't."

Some other Mon Valley school officials said their districts do not, by 
policy, conduct random drug test. Students have been tested in the face of 
suspicion.

"Currently, there are no students being tested. I would assume that one of 
the major issues for a district like Monessen would be the cost," Monessen 
Superintendent Dr. Alex Warren said.

Warren said the school district does not have a drug test program.

"If there is an issue, the student is usually forced into testing as part 
of the punishment," Warren said. "Usually, that comes through the juvenile 
court system ... or it's requested by the parents. The district's not 
involved directly," he said.

Random drug testing is not mandatory in Charleroi Area and Ringgold school 
districts.

"Any student would be tested if there was reasonable suspicion," Ringgold 
Superintendent Ed Repka said. "There's been occasion. It's not very common. 
It's rare, but it's been at the parents' expense."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager