Pubdate: Wed, 09 May 2007
Source: Newton Tab (MA)
Copyright: 2007 Newton Tab
Contact:  http://www2.townonline.com/newton/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3619
Author: Rachel Lebeaux
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

PRINCIPAL SAYS YES, THEN NO, TO DRUG TEST

Newton - Newton South High School's principal told parents last week 
that he planned to randomly test students for alcohol and marijuana 
at next month's prom, but has since abandoned the idea.

Principal Brian Salzer notified parents via his  e-newsletter of his 
intention to crack down on  potential alcohol and drug usage at the 
South Prom,  which will be held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel 
June  5 from 6 p.m.-midnight. South also hosts a post-prom  event 
back at South from midnight-4 a.m.

"It is very important to us that students refrain from  the use of 
alcohol and drugs during these events;  therefore, it is important 
that I share with you that  we will have a 'Breathalyzer' type 
instrument at Prom,"  Salzer wrote. "This instrument along with 
'mouth swabs'  used to detect marijuana will be used on 
students  randomly and/or if we have a reasonable suspicious 
they  are under the influence."

If alcohol or drugs were detected, school officials  would contact 
parents and notify police, Salzer wrote.  The student would not be 
allowed to participate in the  evening's events.

But on Monday, Salzer offered a written retraction.

"There will be no random testing or required use of  either [the 
Breathalyzer or swabs]," he wrote. "The  police will not be involved 
unless the student is also  in possession of an illegal substance."

As in the past, Breathalyzers will be on hand at both  the junior 
semi-formal and the senior prom, "however,  these will be used only 
if a students is suspected to  be under the influence of alcohol. 
Submitting to a test  of the Breathalyzer is optional and available 
for a  student to demonstrate his/her influence."

Mouth swabs to check for marijuana use will also be  available, but 
not used randomly.

"Three people trained in detecting signs/indicators  that a student 
is 'high' will observe the student,"  Salzer wrote. "If it appears 
that the student is under  the influence, a parent will be contacted 
and they will  have the opportunity to take the swabs home 
and  administer the saliva test if they choose."

Salzer could not be reached by the TAB prior to  deadline to explain 
why he reversed the policy.

Superintendent Jeffrey Young said this is the first  time he had 
heard of random Breathalyzer testing in a  Newton high school, 
although "the use of a  Breathalyzer, and having one on hand, is 
pretty  standard fare."

Young declined to comment further, saying that he does  not usually 
play a role in how a principal chooses to  handle a school dance.

Chris Ott, a communications manager for the American  Civil Liberties 
Union of Massachusetts, said the ACLU  have had a variety of concerns 
about the  constitutionality of such testing, adding "it does  sound 
like it was a wise move to make the change  [Salzer] made."

Ott said such a policy is the wrong way to send a  message 
discouraging teen use of drugs and alcohol and  raised concerns about 
the possibility of faulty test  results.

"Underage drinking can be a problem, but if you're  setting up a sort 
of Checkpoint Charlie to get into  prom, students are just not going 
to go to events with  testing or [adult] supervision," Ott said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman