HILLSIDE APPROVES SCHOOL DRUG TESTS

Parental Consent Not Needed For Screenings

The Hillside Board of Education last night implemented mandatory medical
screening of students suspected of drug or alcohol abuse.

The policy differs from random drug testing in schools, which the Supreme
Court is expected to consider this spring. In Hillside, only students who
exhibit signs of intoxication will be taken to a local hospital for drug
tests. One board member objected to the proposal because parental consent
will be sought but not required. Nathalie Yafet said the approval of a
student's parent or guardian should be mandatory.

"I have a serious concern about the agreement," she said prior to last
night's meeting. "I think it needs to be reworked. I'm not against drug
screening, as some people have supposed. But the policy on parental
notification needs to be clarified, and I'm trying to get answers."

Mike Yaple, a spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association, said
state statutes call for a parent, "If available," to accompany a child for
drug testing, but the exam must be conducted as soon as possible.

Roselle Schools Superintendent Darlene Roberto said her district has a
similar policy, and added it has been enforced. She said every effort is
made to obtain parental consent, and parents are given the option of taking
the student to a family doctor.

Hillside's mandatory drugscreening program will be enforced under an
agreement with Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth.

The new policy would allow a principal, or an administrator designated by
the school head, to accompany a student to the hospital's substance abuse
service office. There, a urine test would be administered for a range of
substances, including amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana and
methadone.

The $165 cost of the examination will be charged to the student's health
insurer. If the student is uninsured, the district will pay the costs.

Yaple said more extensive testing of students who appear intoxicated in the
classroom is becoming routine in New Jersey.

"Under state law, any school staff member who suspects a student is under
the influence of drugs or alcohol, if they report that person to the school
principal or superintendent, the school must have the child sent out for a
thorough medical examination," he said. The school board spokesman added
the medical exams, which school districts began utilizing three years ago,
often include drug testing.

Superintendent Bandlow stressed upgrading the drug policy in Hillside is an
attempt to control student misbehavior. He added the change is part of an
annual updating of the drug policy required by law.

Board President John O'Shea, who sits on the committee that revised the
drug policy, said the intent is to protect the student and the school
should a student become violent from substance abuse.

Union County Schools Superintendent Glenn A. Tillou, however, cautioned, "I
am sure the board officials have thoroughly gone over this with their
attorney. They must be very careful to not step on the rights of anyone."

Action on the drug policy came shortly before a dozen township residents
spoke against a proposed $35 million schools budget that would require a
$360 property tax increase for the average homeowner in the coming year.