Pubdate: Mon, 07 Aug 2006
Source: Express-Times, The (PA)
Copyright: 2006 The Express-Times
Contact:  http://www.pennlive.com/expresstimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1489
Author: Andrea Eilenberger
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG, ALCOHOL TESTS UNDER GUN

Federal Money For North Hunterdon/Voorhees Program Drying Up. Task 
Force To Explore Options.

With federal funding set to expire in September 2007, North 
Hunterdon/Voorhees Regional School District officials are planning a 
full review of a random drug and alcohol testing program.

The program will enter its third year at both high schools in the 
fall, but will lose federal money after the coming school year. A 
reconvened task force is planning to tackle the finances, policy and 
efficiency of the program before deciding how to proceed.

"What we're trying to do is get some type of public reaction and see 
where the public wants us to go," said board of education member 
Garry Peabody, who is co-chairman of the task force.

The task force's first meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22 and officials 
encourage community members to attend. Anyone interested in joining 
the task force may come to the meeting or contact the board of 
education office at 908-735-2846.

The meeting will likely begin at 7 p.m. in the board of education 
office at the North Hunterdon High School campus in Clinton Township.

Under the random testing policy, any high school student who drives 
to school, is involved in a club or activity, or whose parents 
volunteer the student for the program is entered into the testing pool.

About 10 percent of those students are selected for testing each 
year, according to Charles Shaddow, the district superintendent.

Only a handful of those have tested positive, he said.

In one year, the district spent between $15,000 and $16,000 on tests 
for the program, which is reimbursed by the federal grant, according 
to Anita Lamison, the district human resources coordinator.

Each urine screen drug test costs $46 and each breath alcohol test 
costs $12, she said.

The grant also pays a small portion of the salaries for employees who 
coordinate and assess the testing, she said.

Besides funding, Peabody expects the task force will scrutinize the 
district's reasonable suspicion policy in light of June's North 
Hunterdon High School prom debacle.

Thirteen students were booted from the prom because administrators 
believed they had been drinking alcohol and were sent for blood 
tests, which is according to the policy.

Officials invited parents of those students to sit on the task force, 
Peabody said.

As they did during board meetings after the prom, he expects they 
will suggest the district buy breath tests and oral swab kits so 
students can be tested on site.

"Personally, I don't think it's a bad idea," Peabody said of the breath test.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman