Pubdate: Sun, 29 Apr 2007 Source: New Jersey Herald (NJ) Copyright: 2007, Quincy Newspapers, Inc Contact: http://www.njherald.com/news/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2162 Author: Stephen J. Novak Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SPARTA DEBATES DRUG-TESTING STUDENTS SPARTA -- Starting in September, Sparta Middle School students may be asked to participate in random testing for substance abuse. Students in the high school might be required to be tested. Sparta High School Principal Richard Lio made a presentation describing a potential random drug testing program Wednesday night to the district's Board of Education. If Lio's plan is adopted, a possibility in the next two months, Sparta would be the first public school in Sussex County to have a random drug testing program. Pope John XXIII Regional High School is the only county school with such a program. In his presentation, Lio called random drug testing "a proactive way to approach the substance abuse issue" and one that does not presume the guilt of a tested student. The proposed program would require voluntary testing at the middle school level. In the high school, any student who wishes to partake in extra-curricular activities, sports or drive to school must be a part of the testing pool. Students not involved in those activities would still be able to volunteer and have their involvement reflected on college applications. Students can be tested in-school by supplying saliva and urine samples to the school nurse. If a student is tested, parents will be notified no matter the result. Positive results can be sent to an outside laboratory for confirmation testing. If a substance is confirmed, disciplinary action would be imposed based on the school's own drug policy. In the case of the high school, Lio suggested that a confirmed positive test exclude the student from his or her chosen activities. However, Lio said the goal of the program is not to catch students. "By randomly testing, the program should serve to deter students from drug use," Lio said. "By knowing they could be tested and lose their privileges, it hopefully will make them think twice." Because such testing methods are new and will require parental consent as well as the students', Lio told the board to expect critics and questions. "This is going to generate a lot of discussion," Lio told the board. "You need to be prepared for these things." For tests and the required paperwork, Lio estimated the cost for the district could run between $4,750 and $5,250, although any additional nursing positions that may be needed were already included in the year's budget. Stacy Heller, a student assistance counselor and drug testing project director at Hackettstown High School, said when her school began its program three years ago, it met with some opposition from parents concerned about their childrens' privacy. "A handful of members in the community had a problem with it," Heller said. "They saw it as a civil rights violation. But it has been determined by the Supreme Court to be a legal endeavor." The Hackettstown Board of Education was "very good" and allowed the school one year to educate parents and students by holding forums and surveys. "By and large, most people were for it or just apathetic," Heller said. Since then, the school has maintained its testing program for three years and has met with success, Heller said. "There was no specific event that spurred us into the program," Heller said. "We were looking for another tool to reduce substance abuse." The proposed Sparta program Lio presented was based on similar plans adopted by other schools around the region. Private schools like Pope John and De Paul High School in Wayne have had voluntary random testing programs for more than six years. Both schools have nearly all their students participate and allow students to use their participation on college applications. Besides Hackettstown, other public schools such as Kinnelon High School and Pequannock High School have also implemented their own programs. In the three years the Hackettstown program has been active, students' annual surveys have shown a decline in drug and alcohol use, Heller said. According to a survey conducted by the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy, almost a quarter of eighth graders, a third of high school sophomores and half of high school seniors nationwide have tried illegal drugs at some point in their lives. Becky Carlson, director of prevention services for the Sussex County Center for Prevention and Counseling, said that "all communities have drug problems" and that while random drug testing is "not the only answer," it is "definitely a piece of the puzzle." "It's an individual school thing," Carlson said of such programs. "(Schools) need to know what their problems are and they must have community support. "The school will have to talk to the community, educate parents and students and provide details of the program so people can understand it." Lio said the program, if approved, could potentially be in place by the start of the new school year in September. "Between now and then, we must gain the consensus of the students, teachers and community," Lio said. "Right now, I have the support of (all) nine board members and the administration." Even though discussion of the program on Wednesday was informational in nature, the suggestion immediately received strong, unanimous support from the board. Board member Linda Curcio said she feels the district has "an immediate need to move on a drug policy." Board President Michael Schiavoni said the program will be "put on a fast track" and will be on the agenda for the board's May meeting. He expects a decision to be made on the program before school ends in June. "But there is a lot more research to be done and questions to be answered before that," Schiavoni said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman