DUSD BOARD WILL CONSIDER OTHER DRUG POLICY OPTIONS

DURHAM - When it comes right down to it, what is the goal of random drug
testing in a public school?

For weeks, administrators, trustees, parents and residents in the Durham
Unified School District have discussed, pondered and reviewed the
district's current random drug testing policy.

It originally began as an effort to bring the general DUSD policy on drug
and alcohol use and the policy that covers athletes into conformity.
However, that effort expanded to consider random drug and alcohol testing
for students in all extracurricular activities as well as sports.

The board seemed on the verge of adopting such a policy during its regular
meeting Tuesday night, when the mother of a student at Durham High School
asked whether drug testing should focus on punishment or on education.

Barbara Schill told the board discouraging students from using drugs or
alcohol is a "noble goal," but if the policy stresses punishment and takes
kids out of positive activities, it may be missing the true target.

"We want children to be active. We want them to be participating in
activities," said Schill.

Under the policy the board was considering, a positive drug test during the
fall sports season would end that season for the offender, preclude the
individual from participation during the winter season, but could allow the
student back for the spring season if he or she completed a minimum
six-hour drug program and provided the district with a clean drug test.

"In dealing with juvenile delinquents, what we want to do is rehabilitate
them," said Schill.

She encouraged the district to consider a policy that would remove a person
from playing on a team for, say, 30 days on a first positive drug test. She
said the youngster could still be on the team and practice with the team,
but could not take part in games before the end of the suspension.

She said there should be a mandatory drug and alcohol counseling program
for anybody found dirty. The offender could be required to have weekly drug
tests, take part in community service and do other things as punishment,
but the key should be education, she said.

"If we can teach them to learn from their mistakes, I think you are making
a far greater impact on these children than throwing up your hands on
them," Schill continued.

Regardless of the specific approach, there seemed to be general agreement
that drugs and alcohol were a genuine concern in the Durham schools.

"Having been a teacher in this district for 20 years, and having attended
eight funerals," said Durham High band director Ed Banes, "I'm not real
excited about going to any more. These are kids I have known since fifth
grade and it tears my heart out.

"For me, since I worked with these kids since they were 10 years old, this
is really emotional. This is not something I take lightly," said Banes.

He estimated that perhaps 30 percent of the students in his high school
band are involved in drugs or alcohol.

Banes also said while the drug of choice changes yearly, whatever is
currently popular is "readily available right here in our little community."

Susan Dowdy, a mother of two children attending Durham schools, and also
part of a recently organized drug and alcohol task force in the community,
said a survey done last year suggests 60 percent of the Durham High seniors
had used drugs or alcohol.

After hearing these comments, the DUSD trustees decided to continue
discussion of a drug and alcohol testing policy and the sanctions related
to positive tests.

"It looks to me like we need to give it a lot more thought," said trustee
Mark Kimmelshue.