YORKTOWN CROWD DISCUSSES DRUG TESTING

YORKTOWN - Although Traci Waters's five children aren't in high school yet,
she's still concerned about the possibility of Yorktown High School
instituting random drug testing.

She and other community members attended a meeting Thursday night to
discuss the proposed policy, which would provide random drug tests for
Yorktown High students who participate in extracurricular activities or who
drive to school.

"Parents should be able to manage this issue at home," Waters said. "My
concern is that the children would be considered guilty and have to prove
their innocence."

However, Waters added she hoped the school district would "make the best
decision for everyone."

Before Thursday's open forum at the high school library, the district had
already had a Feb. 2 public meeting and Feb. 4 and 5 meeting for students.

"I have been impressed with the thought behind the students' comments,"
Supt. Mary Ann Irwin said. "They do feel that there is drug use in the
community. "Their primary concerns are whether it is the school's business
what they do in their private time, the possibility of drug testing costs
taking away from school program funding and the punishments if you get caught."

Junior Chase Winkle, a student council member, supports random drug testing
at the high school.

"I'm for it," said Winkle, who added that his friends are "split" on the
issue. "We do have a drug problem here, and I think this would probably
help out."

Although Irwin noted that the district was "probably a minority" among area
schools in not have a drug testing policy, the superintendent stressed that
officials were simply discussing the possibility of installing such a rule.

"No decisions have been made whether to have a policy," she said in an
interview. "We may decide what we have in place at present time - [basing
testing on] just cause of suspicion - is the best avenue for us to continue.

"We are gathering information and making ourselves, the board, patrons and
students as knowledgeable as possible about what problems we have in our
community and our school community we're discussing what other schools have
done about similar concerns and what our options are."

One option was explored during Thursday's meeting. Daniel Hood of ASL
Testing demonstrated to the audience the procedure of oral fluid testing.

"It's not about catching kids and getting them in trouble," he said of his
company's operations. "It's a great deterrent and gives students a reason
to say no."

The school board will have the final vote on whether to bring random drug
testing to the high school.

Board member Steve Guinn said he was "open, but leaning against it.

"I'm hoping to hear something from the folks here tonight that might change
my mind," he said before the start of the session.

"My biggest concern about random drug testing is that it's random," Guinn
added. "We're telling kids that we have no reason to believe they're using
drugs 'Now prove to us that you're not.'"