Pubdate: Sat, 18 Mar 2006
Source: Gary Post-Tribune, The (IN)
Copyright: 2006 Post-Tribune Publishing
Contact:  http://www.post-trib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/827
Author: James D. Wolf Jr., Post-Tribune correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DRUG TESTING IN SCHOOLS ON MONDAY'S AGENDA

PORTER TWP. -- People will have a chance to voice their  comments on
possible drug testing of students in the  Porter Township School Corp.
during a meeting Monday  night.

A public round-table discussion will be held at Boone  Grove High
School on drug education and testing  students for drugs.

The school district wants to gauge public sentiment  before beginning
a policy, Superintendent Nick Brown  said.

"It has the potential to be a controversial topic," he
said.

The discussion will allow everyone, including school  officials, to
ask questions, Brown said.

Issues to be discussed will include the type of  testing, who should
be tested, and how would students  be selected for testing.

Brown said it's still not decided whether drug testing  should be done
at all.

The idea for a drug-testing policy came after a Porter  County Drug
Task Force symposium in early fall.

"It had been brought to my attention by some staff and  board
members," Brown said. "If it was to save even one  student's life, it
would be worth it," he said.

"We're not saying there's a problem, but every  community has an
issue."

If the School Board wanted to rush the issue, it could  have a policy
ready by fall, although it could take a  year or more to develop one.

"But we really don't have a time line on that," Brown  said. "On a
policy this important, you don't want to  rush it."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake