POLICY SPARKS DEBATE

The Twin Lakes School Board will vote next month on whether or not
to implement a random student drug testing policy at the start of
next school year and will take with them to that vote, comments and
concerns from the community as voiced during a public forum on the
matter Monday.

Parents, teachers and other community members joined Twin Lakes
staff, administration and school board members during Monday's
meeting in the high school library during which Dr. Tom Fletcher,
Twin Lakes superintendent, shared the board's plan for a
random drug testing policy.

Most people seemed to agree on the need for a drug testing policy
and, like the school board, believe the measure will help keep some
students away from alcohol and other drugs.

According to the Fletcher, Twin Lakes, like any other school
corporation, is not immune to drug problems and by implementing a
random drug testing policy for students, schools can be safer places
of learning for all students.

"We believe it's a deterrent to bringing drugs to school. At least
it can stop it from coming to school," he said.

Under the policy, students in grades 7 through 12 who participate in
any club or athletic team as outlined in the student handbook, drive
to school or are enrolled in driver's education classes are subject
to the testing. Twin Lakes will test for alcohol and other illegal
or illicit drugs, such as prescription drugs not meant for the
student, excluding tobacco because it is legal for 18-year-olds,
said Fletcher.

"We think it's bad, but we're not gonna test for it," he said in
answer to a question Monday.

Answering another query, Fletcher said the reason sixth graders are
not intended for inclusion in the testing is because studies have
shown students do not typically start "experimenting" until they
reach seventh grade. The entire student population cannot be tested,
he added, due to law; however, pending legislation could change
that stipulation to include all students, Fletcher said.

Each round of testing will include between five and eight students
at Roosevelt Middle School and between 10 and 15 from Twin Lakes
High School. Tests, according to the policy in its draft form, will
be performed unobserved in the school nurse's office. Parents
of tested students will be contacted with results, which are
expected to be returned in three to five days.

Students will be chosen by the company selected to perform the test.

If a test comes back positive, explained Fletcher, that student will
be suspended from all extracurricular activities and lose their
driving privileges for nine weeks. Students can return to their
activities and to driving after a negative test is returned.

School board president Mark Mills said he was pleased with Monday's
turnout and said that while the board acknowledges drug testing
won't solve every problem, it sends a message to students.

"The bottom line is it's part of our mission to create a safe
learning environment. It's not meant to be punitive. It's not going
to be perfect," said Mills, who has two sons attending Twin Lakes High School.

Twin Lakes High School teacher Dan Glotzbach attended the meeting
with one of his daughters, a Roosevelt eighth grader, and said he
believes the policy will be a "step in the right direction" for
helping keep drugs out of schools, and kids off drugs.

"My wish is that they could do it throughout the entire population,"
Glotzbach said Monday. "Some kids get targeted and they're not
really the target. But I think it'll help. It's probably been needed
for awhile."

Glotzbach told of an instance several years ago when a student in
high class, high on drugs, fell out of his/her chair and the school
at the time had no solution for the problem.

That has and hopefully will not continue to be the case, noted
Mills, who explained students who test positive will be directed to
their school's counselor who can either provide or direct students
to the help they need to stay off drugs.

The cost of the program is estimated at $12,000 for the first year,
with each test costing $30, and Fletcher said grants will be pursued
to cover the program.