Pubdate: Thu, 15 Feb 2007
Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2007 Charleston Daily Mail
Contact:  http://www.dailymail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76

DRUG POLICY IS ALL RIGHT AS IS

PETE Thaw is the voice of dissent on the Kanawha County Board of 
Education as it considers expanding its random drug testing program 
to include 3,700 of its employees -- all but top administrators and 
school board members.

Thaw asked why the schools will test everyone except those at the top.

But the real question is why should the board expand the testing 
beyond bus drivers and mechanics?

The proposal is to test all workers in "safety sensitive" jobs. At 
the board's request, school officials came up with a list that 
includes principals, assistant principals, guidance counselors, 
teachers, mechanics, carpenters, cooks, custodians, electricians, 
locksmiths, etc.

Testing that many employees would be an overreaction to the arrest of 
one school principal for possession of cocaine.

This is the kind of zero-tolerance nonsense that can lead to 
bureaucratic nightmares and a big expense for very little return.

The school board now screens its 250 bus drivers and mechanics at a 
cost of $12,600 a year. Screening everyone except top administrators 
would cost $200,000. That would be a waste of time and money.

The school system has a good policy. The board should leave it alone.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine