Pubdate: Tue, 17 Feb 2009
Source: Daily American (Somerset, PA)
Copyright: 2009 The Daily American
Contact:  http://www.dailyamerican.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4055
Author: Bruce Siwy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SOME NORTH STAR STUDENTS FAVOR DRUG TESTING

BOSWELL - North Star School District may return to the  short-lived 
drug policy it installed less than five  years ago.

The school board decided Monday to schedule a special  meeting at 
6:30 p.m. March 24 to discuss the  possibility, as well as budget matters.

According to Superintendent Dennis Leyman, the  district's former 
policy allowed the school to test at  random any student involved 
with athletics,  extracurricular activities or who had a 
driver's  permit. These rules were in effect until 2006, 
lasting  less than two years.

Monday's meeting was attended by six high school  students - and each 
seemed in favor of drug testing of  some sort.

Robert Rea, a senior, said he was in favor of random  tests for all students.

"They'll hit more people. Drug and alcohol use is  pretty 
overwhelming here," he said.

Rea added that he believed members of the senior class  are 
especially known for this.

"It's like we hand (the underclassmen) a drug-infested  torch to pass 
on," he said.

But Leyman said random testing for all students isn't likely.

"It'll probably be discussed at the meeting, but it  doesn't look 
like a viable option," he said.

The reason: Theodore v. Delaware Valley School  District, a case that 
challenged the legality of  testing all students.

Because of the case, Solicitor Jim Beener said  implementing a 
random-testing-for-all policy could open  the district to lawsuits 
based upon right-to-privacy  premises.

"Testing all students involuntarily will not currently  work under 
present Pennsylvania law," he said.

The board's discussion to bring back a drug testing  policy began in 
November. If a decision is reached next  month, the policy would 
likely take effect for the  start of the 2009-10 school year.

Chelsee Greeley, also a senior at North Star, said she  hopes that a 
drug testing policy is enacted.

"Everything's been getting worse, and the school knows  that," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom