GRAHAM SCHOOL BOARD IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS TOUGH ANTI-DRUG STAND

This past December, the Graham County School Board passed a landmark
reform package aimed at ensuring a safe, alcohol- and drug-free
environment for the students and employees of the school system.

First, it declared all school employees as being in safety-sensitive
positions. Next, it instituted a random drug- and alcohol-testing
program for all employees holding these safety-sensitive positions.

My initial thoughts when I heard of the policy were, "What took you so
long, and hallelujah!" I have always had the utmost respect for anyone
who chooses to be a teacher. In my opinion, it has to be one of the
most stressful careers that anyone could choose, given the huge
responsibility. I honestly believe that 99 percent of the teachers in
the Graham County School System are caring and decent individuals with
high moral and ethical standards, who have only the very best
intentions for the children. They take pride in how they do their job
and they adhere to a strict code of professional conduct every second
of the day, whether at work or not. We are truly blessed to have such
a dedicated group of professionals in our schools.

But as with any profession, it's the 1 percent that is always
troubling: those who choose to act unprofessionally and without due
regard for the safety and well-being of others, especially our young
people. A few bad apples When I was in high school in the late 1970s
and early 1980s, we, too, had a handful of teachers who thought they
were still in college. They taught school during the day and partied
hard at night. I know that the thought just crossed some minds, "what
someone does after work, at their own home, is their busines." I'll
agree to a certain point, except that in the instances I just
described to you, students were almost always invited to and attended
these parties. Some young boys and girls thought that partying with
the teachers was a really cool thing to do.

It was later in life, after I finally got some sense, that I realized
just how damaging this was. I can point out individuals to you today
who I went to school with who have yet to recover from the effects of
partying with a handful of teachers more than 25 years ago. Their
alcoholism and drug addictions are directly related to their actions.

Scourge of meth I know the same is happening today, and anyone who
doesn't believe that has their head in the sand. The big difference
today is it's not just beer or marijuana. There's a killer drug out
there called methamphetamine that is thousands of times more addictive.

The battle to save our kids cannot stop at the schoolhouse door or at
the door of any government agency, for that matter.

Part of setting an example is being an example. As the owner of a
small trucking company, my drivers are required by federal law to be
randomly tested for drugs and alcohol. Even though that doesn't apply
to me, being in an administrative position, I voluntarily submit my
name with theirs to be picked randomly. To set an example, I want to
demonstrate to them that I believe in and support a drug-free work
environment. I don't like the inconvenience of taking random drug or
alcohol tests either, but I'd do it every day for the rest of my life
if I thought it would help save one child.

I believe that anyone who has the physical custody of a child or a
group of children is in a "safety-sensitive position," and that the
school board acted appropriately in designating them as such.

I agree totally with the actions of the four school board members who
instituted this policy.

I encourage them to not be discouraged with the current legal action
brought against the board by the North Carolina Educators Association
on behalf of one Graham County teacher.

Thank you for standing your ground and working to create a safer
environment for our children.