Pubdate: 13 Aug 1998 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Contact: http://www.chicago.tribune.com/ Author: Sheryl Kennedy WAUKEGAN HIGH SCHOOL SAYS NO TO DRUG TESTS In the wake of their decision not to pursue random drug testing of all Waukegan High School students, Waukegan School District 60 officials said Wednesday that they are satisfied to continue supporting drug-awareness programs already in place. A suggestion to explore the issue made last month by school board member Patricia Foley was dropped Tuesday night after district officials said that such a policy could raise constitutional questions. "We just wanted to clear the air and make sure everybody knows that we have no intention of pursuing such a policy," said Robert Taylor, president of the District 60 Board of Education, at Tuesday's school board meeting. Attempts to reach Foley for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful. School district attorneys were directed last month to research existing random-testing policies throughout U.S. schools and the legality of instituting a policy at Waukegan High School, which could have included all students, regardless of their extracurricular involvement. School officials learned that the practice would fail to pass constitutional muster. The suggestion was prompted by concerns for safety and prevention, according to school officials, not to address existing problems at the high school of more than 3,000 students. Supt. Robert Kurtz downplayed the suggestion Wednesday. "There was never a policy being proposed," Kurtz said. "It was simply suggested by one of our board members that we look into the issue. That's it. And it was never really being considered for the entire student body. We were just bringing clarity to the issue." Kurtz said that for at least four years, Waukegan High School, 2325 Brookside Ave., has had drug-awareness programs in place that provide information and assistance to all students. "As far as I know, we have not experienced a high degree of drug use at the high school. But I think the suggestion to look into the issue was based on prevention," Kurtz said. "The programs in place have been working, and we will continue to support them." The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the legality of random drug testing in schools only for students who participate in voluntary extracurricular activities such as athletic programs or students who drive to school. Less than a year ago, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida approved a random-testing policy for all students. But that policy was revised earlier this year to give students the right to refuse the tests after a backlash from parents and civil liberties groups. "Random drug testing is an issue that should be raised in all school districts," according to Reiner Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami-Dade school board member who sponsored the controversial initiative. "Our children have to be able to pass a drug test to get a job. Why shouldn't we require them to be able to pass one while they are in school, which is one the most important institutions in their lives? It seems like common sense to me." In Illinois, limited random drug testing is the practice in some school districts. Zion-Benton High School and Homewood-Flossmoor High School are among those that randomly drug-test athletes. The Chicago Public Schools have no drug-testing policy in place. - --- Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"