Pubdate: Fri, 02 May 2014
Source: Bernardsville News, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2014 The Bernardsville News
Contact:  http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3187
Author: W. Jacob Perry

BERNARDS SCHOOL BOARD MAY IMPLEMENT RANDOM DRUG TESTING

Resident: 'It sends a loud and clear message that the district will not 
tolerate substance abuse.'

BERNARDS TWP. - In a sign that random student drug testing (RSDT) has
re-emerged as a real possibility at Ridge High School, the Board of
Education voted unanimously Monday night to authorize a review of
"multiple options."

The 9-0 vote, which belied a spirited debate among board members, drew
applause from an audience of about 50 people.

The board assigned its policy committee to study two options of RSTD -
mandatory testing, would could be imposed on all students who have an
extracurricular activity or a student parking space; and voluntary
testing, which would comprise only students whose parents "opt in."

Superintendent of Schools Nick Markarian said the effort would include
input from school administrators and substance abuse counselors, as
well as leaders of other districts that have student drug testing.

The move was a remarkable turnaround from the beginning of the year,
when only one board member - Michael Byrne - voiced support for RSDT.
The board had rejected student drug testing in a split vote back in
2008.

But the environment was apparently changed by the deaths of several
young Ridge High alums over the last few months, along with a
widespread belief that a drug "epidemic" has arisen from heroin
becoming readily available here.

A community forum on substance abuse, held at Ridge High on March 13,
drew a crowd of more than 400 people.

Focus On Help

At Monday's meeting, several board members who previously opposed RSDT
said they were open to drug testing so long as its focus is to
identify students who need counseling.

"People are looking to aid the students and not punish the students,
which is what I've been hearing from the community," said Board Vice
President Elaine Kusel.

Much of the board's debate focused on how or if students should be
compelled to submit to drug testing.

Board Attorney Derlys Gutierrez said the courts have limited mandatory
testing to students who have a "privilege" such as participation in a
sport or an extracurricular activity, or who have a reserved parking
space.

Under the district's 2008 RSDT proposal, which reflected programs
elsewhere, a positive drug test would have led to a suspension from
athletics or extracurricular activities and the loss of parking
privileges for the rest of the school year.

Board member Beverly Darvin Cwerner said it seemed "counter-intuitive"
to remove a student from activities that could help "get them on track."

Board member Priti Shah expressed concern that if a student refused to
participate in RSDT, they would be shut out of the so-called privileges.

She said the district might wish to "make up our own" rules, such as
requiring community service from those who refuse to be tested.

Byrne stressed that the key was to use the tests to identify those who
need help.

"The important thing is to get the parents involved," he said, adding
that a positive test "gets it out in the open. Parents are often oblivious."

Board member Christopher Viereck, however, challenged the
effectiveness of drug testing. He cited two drawbacks.

First, he said, a study of a quarter-million students showed that RSDT
did not reduce marijuana use and actually led to increased use of
heroin, narcotics and amphetamines.

Second, urine tests for RSDT are "easy to beat," with tips available
on any number of web sites, he said.

"We need to do something that works," Viereck added. "Urine drug
testing doesn't work."

Byrne disputed that, saying he didn't necessarily trust statistics and
wanted to hear from people actually involved in doing the testing.

Despite the disagreements, the directive to the policy committee,
which sought to address virtually all the concerns that were raised,
was broad enough to win everyone's support.

'Give It A Try'

Seven residents went on to address the board, with most voicing strong
support for drug testing. Two remarks in that vein drew standing
ovations from the crowd.

"It may not be perfect," said Michelle Cappola of Vanderveer Drive.
"We get that. We're willing to give it a try."

"Parents want to know" if their child is using drugs so "they can get
some kind of therapy," Cappola said. She challenged the notion that
heroin dissipates too soon to show up in a drug test, saying people
who use heroin do so constantly.

Former board member Ann Marie Woolford of Addison Drive urged the
board not to spend too much time reviewing statistics and studies,
saying that only "delays things and leads to gridlock."

"We need to send a message that we're done - done with seeing our kids
dying, and give them a tool" to turn down drugs, she argued. She said
drug testing would also impose accountability.

Tom Didario of Dyckman Place also urged action over a search for
instant perfection.

"Don't make it this huge life-ending decision," he said. "Look at it
as if you want to try something."

Georgiana Paril of Riverside Drive, co-leader of Parents4SubstanceFreeKids,
expressed a similar view.

"We should no longer wait for this problem to go away," Paril said.
"Action must be taken by all (the stakeholders) of the community.

"It sends a loud and clear message that the district will not tolerate
substance abuse," she said.

Earlier in the meeting, Board President Robin McKeon and Markarian
each gave extensive rundowns of what the district and the board,
respectively, were doing to combat teen substance abuse.

The board also approved a resolution authorizing Markarian to work
with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office to bring canine dogs to
Ridge High to sniff for drugs.

Alliance Program

On another front, the Bernards Township Municipal Alliance Against 
Substance Abuse scheduled three dialogue nights in response to the 
feedback from the March 13 meeting entitled "Cycle of Pills to Heroin: 
Drug Trends in Our Community."

The sessions were scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. three Wednesdays this
spring at the Bernards Township Municipal Building on Collyer Lane.

The first session was scheduled Wednesday, April 30. It was entitled 
"The Dilemma: Not My Teen."

The second dialogue night will be Wednesday, May 21. The program is
entitled "The Definition of Addiction." During this program,
participants can learn the difference between adolescent angst and
drug use. This evening will feature clinicians from the field of
substance abuse and community perspectives of addiction.

The final dialogue night will be on Wednesday, June 11. It is entitled
"The Discipline of Recovery."
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MAP posted-by: Matt