Pubdate: Wed, 14 Mar 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, Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

TWIN LAKES APPROVES DRUG TESTING POLICY

Two controversial issues were approved but not wholly  resolved and 
squared away by the Twin Lakes School  Board during their Tuesday 
night meeting.

Approvals were granted for a random student drug  testing policy and 
the 2008-2009 school calendar, but  not without a little protesting 
from both inside and  outside the board.

The board, without members Susan Mrzlack and Tony  Deibel for the 
evening, heard comments opposing the  drug testing policy from a pair 
of Twin Lakes parents  before granting unanimous support for the measure.

Ruth Stevens expressed concern that the board had not  committed to 
providing any support or counseling beyond  a positive test for a 
student when that instance  occurs. She also pressed the board 
regarding accuracy  of results and confidentiality in suggesting "the 
first  false positive will endanger that student and their  family, 
regardless."

Twin Lakes Superintendent Dr. Tom Fletcher explained  that a positive 
drug test result will result in a  conference being held between the 
student, their  parents or guardians and the school.

Though no additional money has been earmarked for  helping students 
who test positive, said Fletcher,  "We're not going to say, 'You 
can't drive' and walk  away unless they choose to walk away."

He also noted prevention programs and drug education  measures are 
implemented throughout the course of a  student's career.

But still, that wasn't enough to convince parent Monica  Shane, whose 
children are in elementary, middle and  high school at Twin Lakes.

"I'm disappointed," she said after the vote. "I didn't  want it at all."

The random drug testing policy will affect students in  grades 6 
through 12 who are engaged in athletics and  extracurricular 
activities or drive to school. The  corporation will begin utilizing 
the policy at the  start of the 2007-2008 school year.

A school year of the future was also up for negotiation  Tuesday as a 
vote on the 2008-2009 school calendar was  taken with board member 
John Roscka in disagreement  with the rest of the board's sentiment.

The 2008-2009 school calendar poses a problem to  administrators, 
teachers, students and parents alike in  that the starting date of 
Tuesday, Aug. 19, coupled  with the usual fall semester vacation 
days, may not  allow students to wrap their semester by Christmas, 
as  is the corporation's characteristic target.

Having voted on a similar issue about four years ago,  the board 
decided then not to start school before Aug.  15 in part as a measure 
of goodwill toward local  employers such as Indiana Beach who lose a 
large  portion of their workforce when students head back to  the 
classrooms early in the month.

Roscka Tuesday suggested moving the school start date  back earlier 
to accommodate a by-Christmas finish to  the fall 2008 semester; 
board vice president John  Gooding said he believed the goal of not 
starting before Aug. 15 "is as important today as it was then.  You 
don't change your mind when things get  difficult...We are balancing 
the kids' needs with the  community's needs the best we can."

According to various Twin Lakes school principals who  were in 
attendance Tuesday, the decision to complete  the semester - 
including final exams - before Christmas  or after is still up in the air.

Said high school principal Keith Brakel, "We will come  up with a 
solution that will work for our students so  there's not a lot of 
stress over Christmas break. There  are lots of options to be considered."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom