Pubdate: Tue, 27 Feb 2007
Source: Herald Journal (IN)
Copyright: 2007 Herland Journal
Contact: http://www.thehj.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=3
Website: http://www.thehj.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4410
Author: Abby Lietz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

POLICY SPARKS DEBATE

The Twin Lakes School Board will vote next month on  whether or not 
to implement a random student drug  testing policy at the start of 
next school year and  will take with them to that vote, comments and 
concerns  from the community as voiced during a public forum on  the 
matter Monday.

Parents, teachers and other community members joined  Twin Lakes 
staff, administration and school board  members during Monday's 
meeting in the high school  library during which Dr. Tom Fletcher, 
Twin Lakes  superintendent, shared the board's plan for a 
random  drug testing policy.

Most people seemed to agree on the need for a drug  testing policy 
and, like the school board, believe the  measure will help keep some 
students away from alcohol  and other drugs.

According to the Fletcher, Twin Lakes, like any other  school 
corporation, is not immune to drug problems and  by implementing a 
random drug testing policy for  students, schools can be safer places 
of learning for  all students.

"We believe it's a deterrent to bringing drugs to  school. At least 
it can stop it from coming to school,"  he said.

Under the policy, students in grades 7 through 12 who  participate in 
any club or athletic team as outlined in  the student handbook, drive 
to school or are enrolled  in driver's education classes are subject 
to the  testing. Twin Lakes will test for alcohol and other  illegal 
or illicit drugs, such as prescription drugs  not meant for the 
student, excluding tobacco because it  is legal for 18-year-olds, 
said Fletcher.

"We think it's bad, but we're not gonna test for it,"  he said in 
answer to a question Monday.

Answering another query, Fletcher said the reason sixth  graders are 
not intended for inclusion in the testing  is because studies have 
shown students do not typically  start "experimenting" until they 
reach seventh grade.  The entire student population cannot be tested, 
he  added, due to law; however, pending legislation could  change 
that stipulation to include all students,  Fletcher said.

Each round of testing will include between five and  eight students 
at Roosevelt Middle School and between  10 and 15 from Twin Lakes 
High School. Tests, according  to the policy in its draft form, will 
be performed  unobserved in the school nurse's office. Parents 
of  tested students will be contacted with results, which  are 
expected to be returned in three to five days.

Students will be chosen by the company selected to  perform the test.

If a test comes back positive, explained Fletcher, that  student will 
be suspended from all extracurricular  activities and lose their 
driving privileges for nine  weeks. Students can return to their 
activities and to  driving after a negative test is returned.

School board president Mark Mills said he was pleased  with Monday's 
turnout and said that while the board  acknowledges drug testing 
won't solve every problem, it  sends a message to students.

"The bottom line is it's part of our mission to create  a safe 
learning environment. It's not meant to be  punitive. It's not going 
to be perfect," said Mills,  who has two sons attending Twin Lakes High School.

Twin Lakes High School teacher Dan Glotzbach attended  the meeting 
with one of his daughters, a Roosevelt  eighth grader, and said he 
believes the policy will be  a "step in the right direction" for 
helping keep drugs  out of schools, and kids off drugs.

"My wish is that they could do it throughout the entire  population," 
Glotzbach said Monday. "Some kids get  targeted and they're not 
really the target. But I think  it'll help. It's probably been needed 
for awhile."

Glotzbach told of an instance several years ago when a  student in 
high class, high on drugs, fell out of  his/her chair and the school 
at the time had no  solution for the problem.

That has and hopefully will not continue to be the  case, noted 
Mills, who explained students who test  positive will be directed to 
their school's counselor  who can either provide or direct students 
to the help  they need to stay off drugs.

The cost of the program is estimated at $12,000 for the  first year, 
with each test costing $30, and Fletcher  said grants will be pursued 
to cover the program.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman