SCHOOLS UNLIKELY TO ALTER DRUG POLICIES AFTER RULING

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that approves of random drug testing of more
high school students likely will not have an immediate effect in the
Rochester area.

It's not a topic school boards have been discussing, said Jody Siegle,
executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association.

"I think it's very unlikely that things would change locally because of
that ruling," Siegle said. "I haven't heard a word about that."

Many schools in the area require athletes to pledge to be drug-free, but
none in Monroe County is involved in random drug testing, according to the
association.

The court in 1995 upheld the testing of student athletes. A decision
Thursday authorizes testing high school students involved in
extracurricular activities such as clubs, bands and choirs.

Bill Hirschen, a spokesman for the state Education Department, said
department legal counsels were not available for clarification of how the
decision affects current state education law.

"This needs to be studied," Hirschen said. "We definitely have to act on it
and review it. We're going to be asked by schools immediately, I'm sure."

Currently, the Greece Central School District makes referrals to Unity
Health Systems for students who are suspected of using drugs. Parents are
notified of the referrals.

"The Greece school district does not do any random drug testing of our
students at this time," said Donald Nadolinski, superintendent's designee.
The district will take a close look at the decision, he said, but it would
be premature to say whether that would lead to a change. "Certainly we want
our schools to be drug free," he said.

Student athletes are not randomly tested in Rochester schools either, but
like in Greece, students suspected of drug use are referred to community
agencies for treatment, said spokesman Tom Petronio.

Justin Asbie, who graduated Friday from Eastridge High School in
Irondequoit, said he thinks random drug testing would be a good idea.

"I have friends that go out for jobs and they're always asking, 'Do we need
to tak e a drug test?' " said Asbie, who is 17 and will attend Monroe
Community College in the fall.

Randomly testing students would be another incentive to stay off drugs and
keep drug use down in schools, he said. "It would stop it more."