Pubdate: Thu, 29 Apr 2004
Source: Pacific Daily News (Guam)
Webpage:
Copyright: 2004 Pacific Daily News
Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.guampdn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

GOVGUAM DRUG POLICY MUST BE MORE STRICT FOR EMPLOYEES WHO WORK DIRECTLY 
WITH CHILDREN

Currently, the worst that can happen to government of Guam employees who 
test positive for drugs the first time is suspension. If they complete drug 
rehabilitation successfully, they are allowed to return to their jobs.

That means that four Public Works school bus drivers, who are charged with 
delivering hundreds of students to our public schools daily, soon will be 
back behind the wheels of a school bus. Four bus drivers who tested 
positive last year again are picking up and dropping off schoolchildren.

The parents in our community have made it clear that they don't want 
individuals who have been found to be using drugs in any position that 
works with children.

The drug policy needs to be changed when it comes to those who work 
directly with children. These GovGuam employees, who are responsible for 
the safety and well-being of our children in the course of their duties, 
must be held to much higher standards.

If GovGuam employees who work directly with children -- such as bus 
drivers, teachers, youth center workers, etc -- test positive for drugs, 
they must be immediately suspended and required to undergo rehabilitation. 
However, they must not be allowed to return to any government position in 
which they work directly with children; they must be transferred to a 
different job on probationary status.

Furthermore, their personnel files must be flagged so they aren't moved in 
the future into a position that works directly with children. During the 
probationary period, they also must be tested for drugs on a regular basis. 
If they test positive a second time, they must be terminated. Again, their 
records must be flagged so they won't be rehired at some later date.

We all might believe in giving people second chances, but that doesn't mean 
the second chance has to be in an area in which the lives and safety of our 
children are at stake. For the good of this community, our lawmakers have 
to revise the government's drug policy.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager