Survey to Gather Parents' Input About Random Drug Testing of Students

Soon parents will receive a survey to ask them whether they favor random drug testing of students. The Community Unit School District 95 school board is considering testing Lake Zurich High School (LZHS) students who participate in activities and sports.

“I think we should get some sense from the community,” said Kathy Brown, board president at Thursday night's committee of the whole meeting.

“We should survey the entire district because they have a stake in it,” said John Kropf, board vice president.

The discussion of implementing random drug testing has been ongoing since 2008, according to Kim Kolze, LZHS principal.

In November, Kolze and Barbara Belke, LZHS social worker presented a plan to the board about implementing a random drug testing program at LZHS and hiring a student assistance program coordinator to develop drug prevention and education programs throughout the district.

"Although the drug testing is very important we don't want it without the educational coordinator because we need to have a resource person available there for prevention and support," said Kolze.

The student assistance program coordinator would be a certified social worker and drug counselor having the ability to be able to administer drug tests.

The cost of hiring a student assistance program coordinator would be between $50,000 - $60,000 per year, according to Michael J. Egan, District 95 superintendent.  The cost of the drug prevention and education program is estimated at $14,000.

If urine tests were administered on school grounds, the cost would be $2.25 per test. If the urine tests were sent offsite to a lab, it would cost $30 per test. If a hair test were administered instead of a urine test, it would have to go to a lab, costing $37 per test.

“I’d like to see this funded out of activity fees,” said Jim Burke, board member.

Kolze proposed they randomly test six times a year, twice per quarter.

“Initially we thought we’d test 10 percent of the students, but that’s 100 students and the time that would take would be too long,” said Kolze.

She is proposing they test between 10-15 students twice per quarter.

“Are we going to offer it to parents with students who aren’t involved in athletics and activities for an additional cost?” asked Egan.

Antioch, and Zion are the only high schools in Lake County that administer drug testing.

Tony Pietro, board member brought up student confidentiality, “What if a student tests positive, would HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) allow us to notify the parents?” asked Pietro.

“We need to make sure parents understand exactly what is going to take place,” said Brown.

Next week, Egan, Kolze, and Belke are going to prepare a survey that will go out to all District 95 parents.

“We can also tap the Ela Coalition to help us out,” said Egan.

The survey will be sent electronically through SchoolMessenger or SurveyMonkey in time for the next committee of the whole meeting on Thursday, March 10 where results will be read.

At the Ela Coalition Against Youth Substance Abuse forum in October, it was noted that heroin is becoming a problem in Lake County. Three former LZHS students died within 14 months of each other in 2008 and 2009 due to heroin use.

The 2010 Illinois Youth Survey, which shows overall trends and specific issues related to substance abuse and violence, indicated that 24 percent of LZHS student used marijuana in the past 30 days and 33 percent in the past year.  Out of LZHS seniors, 30 percent used marijuana in the past 30 days and 40 percent used marijuana in the past year.

“I’d like to see us start this (random drug testing) next year,” said Pietro. “I’m not looking to catch kids, I’m looking to deter kids and we need deterrents like this.”