Pubdate: Wed, 13 Aug 2008
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2008sPeoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Note: Does not publish letters from outside our circulation area.
Author: Steve Stein
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

'KIDS WILL SAY NO TO STUDENT COUNCIL'

Discussion About Morton Drug Testing Program Turns Heated

MORTON - Parents spoke out Tuesday about Morton High School's  new 
drug testing program for students during a  sometimes heated meeting 
in the Bertha Frank Performing  Arts Center.

Students who participate in extracurricular activities  or who wish 
to purchase a parking pass will be subject  to a random urinalysis 
test in a program that will be  administered by the Tazwood Mental 
Health Center.

Testing will be done for substances that are considered  illegal by 
Illinois statutes. A positive test will  result in penalties that are 
dictated by the high  school's activity code.

High School Activities Director Greg Pritchard, who is  overseeing 
the drug testing program, ran the meeting.

"We've been working on implementing this program since  2002," 
Pritchard said. "One reason we started it is  students told us on 
surveys that the high school needs  more drug prevention efforts."

One parent shouted that the testing is a violation of  the Fourth 
Amendment of the Constitution, which guards  against illegal search 
and seizure.

But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that random  drug testing of 
students who participate in  extracurricular activities doesn't 
violate the  Constitution.

Another parent opposed to Morton's program said he  believes the 
process makes students guilty until proven  innocent.

"Kids will say no to Student Council, marching band and  track 
instead of saying no to drugs," the parent said.

A parent who supports the program said, "Everything  starts at home, 
and this will back up what I do at  home."

Two other parents - one who favors and one who is  against the 
program - who asked to remain anonymous  spoke with the Journal Star 
after the meeting.

"I like the program. If my kid is on drugs, I want to  know and get 
her help," said one parent.

"It's my job as a parent to make sure my child isn't  taking drugs," 
the other parent said. "We've given up  way too many rights in our 
country under the premise of  making us safer. I don't feel as safe 
as I did 10 years  ago."

Pritchard was asked several questions about the privacy  of the test 
results, especially positive results.

"The results won't go beyond the high school," he said.  "The police 
won't know, colleges won't know, employers  won't know, and 
newspapers won't know."

But police will be notified if a student appears to be  under the 
influence of an illegal substance, a  long-standing school policy.

District 709 Superintendent Roger Kilpatrick, who  attended the 
meeting along with several School Board  members, wasn't surprised to 
hear the opposition to the  program, which was approved unanimously 
by the School  Board earlier this year.

"We're aware that some parents are philosophically  opposed to the 
program, but we believe most favor it,"  he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom