ANOTHER REASON TO JUST SAY NO!

The drug situation in our valley and especially in our schools is a
growing concern and is intolerable to me and I am sure to many other parents.

So, as a concerned parent of Charlo High School and elementary school
students, I am attempting to work with the Charlo School Board to get
a drug testing policy instituted for all extra-curricular activities.

Some will argue that this is an invasion of privacy. Others will say,
"it's not fair to punish the non-drug users because of a few users."
Neither of these are my reasoning for working on this. It is my goal
to give our students who might be tempted to try drugs "One more
reason to just say NO!" It is also my goal to protect our younger
students by keeping drugs out of our schools and away from our
sporting activities.

A drug testing policy can be set up in such a way that it is fair to
all students by being administered at the start of each
season/activity to each participant and then random tests being done
throughout the season's duration. The school is not involved in
choosing the participants being randomly chosen to be tested -- this
is done by a company that the school contracts with. In that way
there can be no complaints from student or parents of unfair
practices. There are three different types of drug tests that can be
done and the cost is actually very low, especially in comparison to
having the drugs in our schools. Charlo school is currently the
recipient of a grant to help keep it a drug free school and in the
next funding cycle could request the funds specifically for drug testing.

There are many schools in Montana that currently have a drug testing
policy in place and in my research I have spoken to the athletic
directors of some of these schools. All of them claim that, since
instituting their policies, they have had far fewer problems with
drugs in their schools. These ADs have also stated that neither the
students nor the parents have any problems with the testing.

At the January school board meeting, I was told that in order to have
this considered I had to gain public support, so I will be putting
out petitions for signatures in the Charlo/Dixon area. It is my hope
that there are enough concerned parents, teachers, grandparents,
students and community members to make this a reality.

Let's band together to give our students "One more reason to just say
NO!" and to protect our younger children from ever trying drugs.

Anyone who is interested in working on this or commenting please feel
free to call me at [redacted] or e-mail me at [redacted] (if you
e-mail please put drug policy in the subject line).

Sincerely,

Tracy Robinson Dalke

Charlo