PARENTS MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR DRUG, ALCOHOL TESTING

U. MT. BETHEL TWP. | Students in the Bangor Area School District
could be tested for drug and alcohol use at their parents' expense if
the school board approves an extension to its recently adopted drug
and alcohol policy.

The school board read the policy extension for the first time at
Monday's school board meeting and could approve it by December,
Superintendent John Reinhart said. The school board planned to send
the extension to its policy committee for further review.

The proposed extension would allow drug testing if a principal and
school nurse have a reasonable suspicion a student is using drugs.
Parents would not foot the bill if test results were negative but
students that refuse testing would be expelled, school board members said.

Students would be subject to testing if their "behavior, medical
symptoms, vital signs or other observable factors" cause the
principal and nurse to have reasonable suspicion that the student is
under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the policy states.

Testing may include analyses of blood, urine or saliva or the
administration of an alcohol breath test, the policy continues.

"The significant part of this is the drug testing," Reinhart said of
the policy extension.

The district in July passed a drug and alcohol policy that emphasizes
treatment over punishment, the first change in the school's drug
policy in 15 years. That policy allows for random drug testing on a
second offense.

A first offense brings a one-year suspension from school-related
activities that would be reduced to 30 days if the student enrolls in
counseling and student assistance programs and performs community service.

The proposed extension addresses drug paraphernalia and steroid use,
which were not included in the policy passed in July, Reinhart said.

Punishment for steroid use ranges from a season-long suspension from
athletics to a permanent suspension from athletics, although some
school board members felt punishment for steroids should be the same
as punishment for other drugs.

The policy extension was to include measures for underage tobacco use
as well, Reinhart said, but school board members could not agree on a
suitable punishment for such offenses.