PANEL WEIGHS DRUG-TESTING ONTARIO STUDENTS

ONTARIO - Ontario substance abuse coordinator Veronica Cain was
asked Wednesday night if students are using cocaine and heroin.

"We do have kids from our school using cocaine and heroin," Cain
said, along with alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.

A 14-member panel exploring a random drug testing policy for Ontario
students sought input during a 90-minute meeting Wednesday nigh at
the high school.

Panel members provided a list of concerns expressed on forums
(including the News Journal's Web site). Posters asked who would be
tested, how to finance testing, privacy issues, safety concerns, etc.
The panel plans to submit its findings to the board of education on
March 11.

Board president Mary Bennett said a public forum in April would be
next if the committee deems the issue needs further discussion.

Member Mark Weidemyre said he would volunteer to be drug tested as a
member of Ontario Council, making reference to a blogger's comment
that he should be tested.

Dr. Diana Timperman, a local pediatrician, said she would like to
make sure students who are flagged by the tests get help.

"Who's going to screen that kid to find out what category he's in? He
was the happy-go-lucky guy doing great in school, has a supportive
family and he was experimenting versus the kid who's trying to escape
the world by using drugs and needs to go to counseling?" Timperman
said.

She added she wants to make sure parents have a complete list of
resources available to them, regardless of ability to pay.

The committee will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Ontario
High School library. The public is invited. Members at the Feb. 25
meeting will have a recommendation, yeah or nay, to moving forward
with a proposed policy, Ontario schools' director of operations Curt
McVicker said.

Only one visitor, Ben Mutti of Lexington, attended the meeting, along
with a News Journal reporter.

Community members who have questions or concerns are encouraged to
call Cain.