SCHOOLS HAD DRUG PROGRAM

The comments by various elected school board members on receipt of a
$100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to initiate a
"trial" drug-testing program for athletes are troubling.

Mr. Harry Kinnan said the board would authorize the hiring of a
full-time person for this program, and then another elected board
member voiced concerns about issues of "privacy" conducting the
actual test collection protocols. The collective tone of comments
from board members was one of "caution . . . go slow," as if the
Board of Education was breaking new and unchartered ground in
drug-free student programs.

Over 10 years ago, the principal of Manatee High School and the head
football coach received a recognition award during Red Ribbon Week
for creating a drug-free football program. Both the principal and the
coach applied the text of the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Business
Against Drugs program and together they implemented a first-class
drug-free plan for students. Did the School Board lose their copy of
that excellent program?

Next, having personally conducted dozens of "how to implement
drug-free workplace" seminars for large and small businesses, I have
never heard of a corporation or organization hiring a full-time
person to implement drug testing and drug-free workplace policies.
Managing a sound drug-free program is a basic responsibility of a
competent human resource department. This is not a full-time job,
even in the largest of corporations. With all the free "how to"
information available, it's just not that difficult. So, how can our
board of education and others be so unaware and or ill uninformed?

For the past 19 years, the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce has
provided the intellectual resources and skilled staff members to help
interested parties implement sound drug-free policies and practices.
Where has the board of education been for the last two decades?

Martin J. Gutfreund
Bradenton