MILFORD HIGH TO TEST MORE FOR DRUGS

Of 100 At Random, One Positive For Pot

MILFORD - After reviewing this year's random drug testing at Milford
High School, administrators have decided to test more students next
school year.

The recently concluded school year was the first for the program,
which randomly tested students involved in extracurricular activities
and students who requested parking permits.

Administrators provided this summary of the year's program:

Students were tested on seven random dates.

108 students were tested. 100 were randomly selected, and the other
eight were tested as a condition of disciplinary action.

Three tested positive - all for marijuana.

Only one of the three who tested positive was part of the random drug testing.

High school administrators determined that random testing should take
place on more dates, or more students should be tested on selected
dates, Superintendent John Frye said in his message to the community
on the district's Web site. Frye is leaving the district effective July 31.

Administrators also plan to create a survey for students and parents
of students who participate in the random testing. Also,
administrators have discussed providing a gift card to students whose
drug tests are negative.

"Some suggest, 'Why not test all of the students?' but the
Constitution does not allow that," Frye wrote. "We see from the
results of our random testing that students are choosing to stay drug-free.

"We commend our students for making that smart choice."

Random drug testing for students who participate in athletics and
other extracurricular activities has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme
Court, but the American Civil Liberties Union has said drug-testing
students with parking permits is on questionable legal ground.

In the two Supreme Court decisions involving random drug testing at
schools, student drivers and parking permits are not mentioned.

More than half of the student body of 1,900 students was eligible for
testing this past school year.

The district did not test students involved in curricular or
co-curricular activities in which they receive a grade for their
participation, such as marching band and the school newspaper.

Under the high school's policy, a student who has a first offense is
suspended from extracurricular activities and parking for 14 calendar
days and consents to non-random, mandatory drug screening for the
remainder of enrollment at Milford High School while the student is
engaged in applicable activities.

Milford School District has taken a tough stance on drugs and
alcohol. In April 2005, 16 students were arrested at the high school
and accused of drug trafficking.

The district had hired an undercover private investigator to pose as
a student to make drug buys.

School board members approved the random drug testing program last
July, saying it would give students an effective tool against the
pressure to use drugs, help deter students from using drugs and help
keep them safe and healthy.

Cheryl Sussell of Milford was opposed to random drug testing when it
was implemented and hasn't changed her mind.

This fall, she'll have a junior and a freshman at the high school.

They participate in music and sports that aren't sponsored by the
school. She won't allow them to be involved in school activities that
would make them eligible for drug testing.

"It keeps them from activities at school because I just won't
participate in it. It goes against our Fourth Amendment rights. It's
illegal search and seizure," Sussell said.

"They think if we test the kids, they won't do drugs. That would be
wonderful, but that's not really what happens."

Sussell cited a study by the University of Michigan Institute for
Social Research released in 2003 that said drug testing of students
in schools does not deter drug use.

Researchers at the University of Michigan also found that about 19
percent of American secondary schools have some form of student drug testing.

They said they think that the reason so few schools test their
students for drugs is because it's expensive.

Milford's drug screening initiative is being funded by a $10,000
grant through the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and
Drug-Free Schools. About half of that was used this year.

Meanwhile, Fairfield School District was considering random drug
testing of students in extracurricular activities, but the school
board decided in May to put the issue on hold for further study.

Instead, the board expanded its substance use/abuse policy for
students who participate in extracurricular activities.

Under the revisions, students and their parents sign a yearly
agreement saying they will be drug- and alcohol-free.