ANTI-DRUG CLASSES AREN'T WORKING; IT'S TIME TO TEST THE STUDENTS

Our school board is grappling with an issue right now that is proving
tough to resolve. It has a federal grant of $183,289 that would
finance random drug testing for student athletes and those taking
part in extracurricular school activities.

Some of the school board members believe more education about the
dangers of drugs is the answer and shy away from an aggressive drug
testing campaign because they believe it violates the students'
rights to privacy.

Board chair Jim Malcolm is unsure about what the school district should do.

"I'm torn on the privacy issue," Malcolm said. "I'm concerned about
the education component this grant offers." The grant money must only
be used for drug testing, not anti-drug education.

The board will vote on the issue at the Tuesday, Dec. 12, school
board meeting that will feature two new board members who have yet to
give their opinions on drug testing.

Board member elect, John Sweeney, believes education is the key.

"I don't agree with random drug testing. I agree with John Druzbick
and Pat Fagan," he said.

Only Sandra Nicholson appears to favor drug testing. We don't know
where board member elect Dianne Bonfield stands but if she disagrees
with Nicholson that would leave the majority favoring more education
rather than testing.

Rather than be concerned about student rights, the school board
should be listening to its staff on this issue. They know the reality
of more anti-drug courses - the classes aren't working.

To her credit, Superintendent Wendy Tellone is blunt about it.

"As much as I admire the education we're providing, it is not working."

We put a lot of stock in what Nature Coast Technical High School
Principal Tizzy Schoelles says, and she can tell horror stories of
drug use in high schools. She has spent most of her career overseeing
the high schools in this county and she is concerned about increasing drug use.

Like Tellone, she believes anti-drug courses are not enough.
Something dramatic has to be done and Schoelles thinks random drug
testing would be a good first step.

We agree with her.

Education can only go so far and after awhile, savvy kids familiar
with the drug culture only scoff at the classes they are forced to
attend. Education against drugs should probably begin in elementary
schools and certainly in middle school, where students are more
teachable about the terrors of meth and other dangerous drugs.

While some parents are opposing random drug testing and would rather
see testing for cause (testing only when there is a suspicion a child
is using drugs), the mystery of random testing on a student body will
have a more chilling effect.

However, testing those students involved in extracurricular
activities needs to be broad enough to include kids in the band,
theater department and even the chess club. A great slice of the
student population needs to know they could be tested at any time.

Only then will there be a measurable drop in drug usage.