BROAD SCHOOL DRUG TEST STUDIED

Fairfield Plan Would Allow Parents To Volunteer Kids

FAIRFIELD - An "opt in" clause might widen the pool of Fairfield
middle- and high-school students who could be randomly drug-tested
under a policy being considered by the board of education.

For months, the board has been discussing whether to require all
seventh-through 12th-graders to submit to year-round random drug
testing if they want to participate in sports, band or any other club.

This new idea could affect even more students.

"The major comment I've heard is, 'Why don't we test everybody?' We
can't do that," said Superintendent Robert Farrell.

The law allows schools to require drug testing only in certain
circumstances, such as participation in after-school activities.

But the law doesn't prevent parents from voluntarily asking their
child be tested, Farrell said.

A key limitation to the original drug-testing proposal is that the
rule would not affect drug-using students who do not participate in activities.

School board members told Farrell to include language in the next
draft to allow parents to put their minor child in the drug-testing
pool. Parents would not be allowed to volunteer their adult children,
but students 18 and older could volunteer themselves.

Board President Mark Morris raised several questions about the
proposed policy, including asking staff for copies of studies showing
that random testing actually deters student drug abuse. So far, the
only studies he has found show that random drug testing does not
deter drug use, he said.

"Do we have any evidence anywhere that suggests this will do what we
want it to do?" Morris said.

Farrell said he would forward more data to board members for their review.

Under the proposed policy, students could be tested year-round, not
just during a sports season or event.

Parent Heidi Bruzina, who has five children, said she supported the
board's stance, but had some concerns with drug screens, which
sometimes showed false-positive results.

"There are some issues with interfering substances that could cause a
test to show positive for certain substances," said Bruzina, who has
worked in the medical diagnostic field for nearly 20 years.

She said "interfering substances" would include some over-the-counter
medications and other legally prescribed medications.

In addition to the drug testing rules, board members are reviewing a
comprehensive policy for substance use and abuse.

The board will discuss the policy again at a May 3 work session.