Drug testing
More information on the effectiveness of random drug testing will be reviewed at the November meeting of Marion-Florence Unified School District board of education.
Members decided Monday they wanted to hear more information on which schools were testing, how they were doing it, and whether it was seen as effective.
The issue came up when former board member Dan Holub asked the board to reconsider their decision to not establish random drug testing for students involved in extracurricular activities.
Holub said students face pressure from peers, adults, and society to drink and use other drugs. Random drug testing would give them an excuse to turn down offers to use illegal substances.
"It's not how many you catch, it's how many aren't doing it anymore," he said. "If we find two kids dead from overdoses on the street tomorrow, we would look at this thing differently."
Board member Gene Bowers said research has shown that drug testing was effective in detecting marijuana, but traces of other drugs leave the bloodstream within a few days. Alcohol, which is the drug of choice among youth by far, becomes undetectable even more quickly, he said.
"Kids can work around it, so I would rather spend our money on other methods that might make more of a difference," he said.
"We need to be more innovative," agreed member Bruce Skiles.
Marion High School Principal Ken Arnhold felt a drug testing policy would have value. What youths hear now is "nobody will ever find out, so go ahead and try it," he said.
Activities Director Tod Gordon said that of about a dozen students (identified by police as facing legal action for underage use) who face consequences under the current policy, all but two were involved in school activities.
President Rex Savage said the only way to know if the program would work would be to try it.
Board members asked for more information on use of drug testing policies and studies showing its effectiveness.
"If every parent knows where their children are, who they're with, and what they're doing, that would be a big step," member Keith Collett said.
