Forum On Drug Testing Slated For October

’s board of education took a third look at a preliminary draft of policy and procedures for a mandatory random drug-testing program at at a recent committee of the whole meeting.

They also discussed holding a community forum Oct. 5 to give parents the opportunity to look over the policy and procedures and give their feedback to the board. A follow-up survey also will go out to District 95 parents after the forum.

The debate about implementing a drug-testing policy at has been a "three-year discussion," said Board Vice President Doug Goldberg.

In June, the board requested that administrators provide a draft of policy and procedures for random drug testing.

Legally, only students involved in sports and extracurricular activities, and those with parking permits, are eligible to be randomly drug tested.

This time around, the policies were revised by Superintendent Michael J. Egan, Principal Kim Kolze, Student Assistance Program coordinator Barbara Belke, and athletic director Rolando Vazquez.

Changes made to the policy include:

• The selection process for each random test will be run by the Student Assistance Program coordinator and athletic director. The policy previously stated it would just be witnessed.
• Students are encouraged to notify the Student Assistance Program coordinator that he or she is taking a prescription medication as it may cause a positive result. The policy previously stated it would be the student’s choice to notify the administrator.
• Drug-testing records are considered temporary and will be kept with the Student Assistance Program coordinator. This was added to the confidentiality portion of the policy and procedures.

The board discussed any loopholes in the punishment if a student did test positive. The current draft reads that a student who commits a first offense would be suspended from participating in meetings, practices, competitions or performances for 50 percent of the season or academic year. The student who records a second offense would be suspended from his or her activity for the rest of the year.

The board agreed that if a student who is involved in both sports and activities tests positive, the suspension will be across the board for all activities and sports.

Board member Tony Pietro suggested giving parents who are against the drug-testing program the opportunity to opt out.

“Their child would still have to honor their pledge card and we would give them information on substance abuse and leave it at that,” he said.

“It’s an emotional and complex issue,” said Goldberg. “It requires a good deal of thought.”

The time and location of the open forum has not been announced. Updated information will be available on the district website.

After the forum, the board once again wants to survey parents by email. A vote on the drug-testing policy will take place after receiving the survey results.

“It needs to be resolved and we need to resolve it by the end of the calendar year,” said Goldberg.

“We need to put some closure to this,” added Egan.