News (Media Awareness Project) - US IL: Dist. 214 Passes Voluntary Drug Testing For Students |
| Title: | US IL: Dist. 214 Passes Voluntary Drug Testing For Students |
| Published On: | 2000-10-07 |
| Source: | Daily Herald (IL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 06:27:39 |
DIST. 214 PASSES VOLUNTARY DRUG TESTING FOR STUDENTS
The Northwest Suburban High School District 214 school board Thursday
approved a policy that will allow students to be tested for drugs on a
voluntary basis in their high school.
Board members, who say they hope the policy can at least help some families
address issues of substance abuse, unanimously approved the policy though
the district's high schools may not unanimously support it.
It will be up to each individual school to decide whether to participate in
the program. Schools deciding to participate can start as soon as they
receive the test kits.
Staff members at some high schools have said they may not participate,
citing reasons that include the feeling that drug testing isn't the
responsibility of school officials.
"Some feel we're going beyond the mission of the schools," said Thomas
Hansen, assistant superintendent for student services.
The policy, which will test students for drugs using a urine specimen, will
be voluntary, meaning a school cannot force a student to submit to such a
test. If a parent requests a drug test and the student agrees, specified
school staff members will administer the test.
A positive test would give the school cause to search the student and the
student's possessions and locker, and could mean consequences under the
co-curricular code. The school also would be able to recommend drug
treatment options.
Vanguard School and Wheeling High School have piloted the program and
reported success.
At Wheeling High School, 20 to 25 students each year have participated in
the voluntary drug testing program, in some cases because they want to
prove to parents they're not using, Principal Dorothy C. "Dottie" Sievert said.
"It's a great program," Sievert said. "It's just a win-win."
The policy comes in the wake of the suspected heroin-related deaths of Ryan
Fried, 18, of Buffalo Grove and Dane Anderson, 17, of Arlington Heights,
both of whom would have been seniors at District 214 high schools.
Officials said the policy is not related to the deaths.
The Northwest Suburban High School District 214 school board Thursday
approved a policy that will allow students to be tested for drugs on a
voluntary basis in their high school.
Board members, who say they hope the policy can at least help some families
address issues of substance abuse, unanimously approved the policy though
the district's high schools may not unanimously support it.
It will be up to each individual school to decide whether to participate in
the program. Schools deciding to participate can start as soon as they
receive the test kits.
Staff members at some high schools have said they may not participate,
citing reasons that include the feeling that drug testing isn't the
responsibility of school officials.
"Some feel we're going beyond the mission of the schools," said Thomas
Hansen, assistant superintendent for student services.
The policy, which will test students for drugs using a urine specimen, will
be voluntary, meaning a school cannot force a student to submit to such a
test. If a parent requests a drug test and the student agrees, specified
school staff members will administer the test.
A positive test would give the school cause to search the student and the
student's possessions and locker, and could mean consequences under the
co-curricular code. The school also would be able to recommend drug
treatment options.
Vanguard School and Wheeling High School have piloted the program and
reported success.
At Wheeling High School, 20 to 25 students each year have participated in
the voluntary drug testing program, in some cases because they want to
prove to parents they're not using, Principal Dorothy C. "Dottie" Sievert said.
"It's a great program," Sievert said. "It's just a win-win."
The policy comes in the wake of the suspected heroin-related deaths of Ryan
Fried, 18, of Buffalo Grove and Dane Anderson, 17, of Arlington Heights,
both of whom would have been seniors at District 214 high schools.
Officials said the policy is not related to the deaths.
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