School board approves substance abuse policy
Final approval to come in January following third-party administrative review
Staff writer
After more than 90 minutes of discussion, the Marion-Florence USD 408 Board of Education approved a policy on illegal substance abuse for students involved in extra-curricular activities.
The policy will come back to the board for final approval during its January meeting following third-party administrative review, business manager/board clerk Martin Tice said today.
The board voted 5-2 to accept the policy with members Gene Bowers and Roger Hannaford III casting the "no" votes.
Member Susan Robson Monday night made the motion to approve the policy with changes made by The Consortium, the organization that will be conducting the testing. That stipulation was included after Tim Harris, representing The Consortium, said he had concerns with certain aspects of the policy.
Member Doug Sharp seconded the motion.
The testing will be implemented sometime during the remainder of the current school year once all the components are in place, Tice said.
Prior to the vote, the board heard a presentation from Harris concerning the nuts and bolts of drug testing, listened to comments from the audience, and heard both pro and con comments from members.
Harris said if a student has a positive test The Consortium does everything it can to rule out other possible reasons.
"We'll do everything we can to verify it's not due to a doctor's prescription or it's not the result of a medical condition," Harris said.
Also, if a positive test is found the student and parents are notified first. The results also are given to the district, but are confidential.
Harris said one concern he's heard over the years is that a positive test will "follow the kid throughout his life" affecting the possibility of future employment.
"There's no reason why that won't be destroyed after the student leaves the district," Harris said. "Employers won't be calling looking for it."
Harris told board members that urine testing for alcohol was not very effective unless an individual had just consumed it. He noted the body metabolizes alcohol quickly, usually within two to three hours. So a person who drank Friday night will have no trace in their system by Monday morning.
Harris said students who refuse to take a test will be treated the same as having a positive test.
Gerry Henderson, superintendent of schools, said testing in the local district would involve about 50 percent of the student population or 125 to 130 tests a year, at a cost of $60 per test. The cost is $40 if the school nurse does the testing.
Sharp questioned what the biggest drug problem was in the district besides alcohol. MHS Principal Ken Arnhold said it was marijuana.
"I'm concerned this program isn't as effective as it relates to alcohol and it'll push more kids to alcohol than we have now if it's not as testable as other products," Sharp said.
Marion County Sheriff Lee Becker said alcohol is a "gateway drug." Once an individual gets started with alcohol it is much easier for them to get hooked on other illegal substances.
Robson, who also is county attorney, said she and the sheriff have discussed a countywide curfew.
"Now we can't send anyone home," she said noting that controlling access to alcohol will lessen exposure to other drugs.
"The bottom line is you have to address alcohol," she said.
Parent and teacher Julie Trapp said the district teaches young children about drugs and alcohol at an early age through the DARE program, but does not provide tools for them to use when they get older.
"It can't just be 'Just Say No.' We have to give them a reason to say no," Trapp said.
Board member Keith Collett said he had several concerns with the policy as written, including a section which would involve a juvenile justice intake officer for those testing positive.
"I'd just as soon not involve them," Collett said. He also had concerns with the closed deliberations and vote of the Substance Abuse Review Board. The board determines whether a student is reinstated following suspension from an activity, and the lack of an appeal process after a review board hearing.
"I don't like the idea of a last chance being a secret ballot," Collett said. "I'd like to see an open ballot with the SARB meeting open to the student, parents, and council."
Board member Bruce Skiles said he had received literature from several mental health professionals indicating they were opposed to the random drug testing policy.
"And none of the people who told me they were against it are here tonight," Skiles said.
"And doesn't that bother you?" questioned Rex Savage, board president.
Bowers said everyone on the board "cares," however, he wasn't so naïve as to believe that drug testing would solve all the problems.
"Once again, the school is thrown into it like it's our problem to solve," Bowers said. "But as for drug testing, there's something negative about it. It assumes our kids are guilty and runs counter to our discipline policy."
Bowers said the policy will single out individuals to punish, while "10 others go free. And I feel it will stop some from going out for extra-curricular activities," he said.
Bowers said alcohol and drug use was a kids and parents problem and everyone was looking for easy answers.
"There's alcohol abuse everywhere. At the country club, at the softball game," Bowers said. "I think we've got a great group of kids and we need to accentuate the positive. I just don't like drug testing."
Collett said observant parents can see alcohol abuse, but even observant parents have trouble detecting drug abuse. He said the primary argument in favor of the testing was it would stop the experimenters.
"If it's something they care about enough to postpone their involvement and reduce their attendance at weekend parties we know occur in the community," he said. "I feel it will have more than a 10 percent impact. I feel it will have a measurable impact.
"Yes, I have civil liberties concerns. But the Supreme Court tells me I shouldn't," Collett said. "But after dealing with this problem for over 30 years if there was a talking program that worked out there we'd have found it by now."
