GRANDPARENT HAS ISSUES WITH PLEASANT'S DRUG-TESTING

Dear Editor:

Tuesday, July 25, 2006, was mandatory drug testing day for all
Pleasant students that participate in extracurricular activities or
who will be driving to school this school year. There is not a Right
to Privacy form to be signed, only a number scheme to identify each
student that was tested.

How does one expect students who are on drugs to get to school? They
will ride the school bus or will ride with a student who had to be
drug tested, since this program does not include those students. Why
aren't all Pleasant students tested? When this question was
asked to administrators, the answer was, "The State of Ohio law
will not permit every student in junior high or high school to be
drug tested." Only those with extracurricular activities and
students that drive to school can be tested to meet the approved
number scheme. Parents must pay $30 for the privilege of having
each student tested. Twenty-six dollars is paid to the vendor for
doing the tests and $4 goes to the Pleasant School. Additional fees
to be able to play sports or be in band, chorus, etc., is a part of
being able to participate in extra curricular activities as well.

Additionally, students may be randomly selected to be drug tested
again during the school year. One student that I am aware of was
tested three times in the random numbering scheme last year. She
drove to school each day, but all tests were negative. That seems
like an excessive amount of testing on one student who never tested positive.

With all the necessary fees to be paid each year for students
including school supplies, workbooks, etc., it is difficult for some
parents to pay for yet another fee - drug testing. Why couldn't this
test be included with the physical for students playing sports? The
physician conducting the drug test would include the Right to
Privacy Act and the integrity and confidentiality would be where it
should be - in the physician's patient records. The school could
be contacted if there was a problem. Vendors are not doctors and
records can be incorrect should a mix-up occur, since so many drug
tests were being conducted in one day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This time frame is yet another problem as parents work during that
time of day. Therefore, as a grandparent, we made two trips to
Pleasant School; one to pick up the necessary forms for the parents
to sign then again so the student could be drug tested the next day.
Parents were not considered when this drug test schedule was
designed. Many parents work in Columbus or other area cities, which
made it difficult to get their children to the mandatory testing.

Physicians should be doing the physicals, including the drug test,
if this is to be required by Pleasant Schools to participate in
sports activities. Students in other activities, could be drug
tested randomly, instead of the mandatory testing.

Pleasant school administrators and teachers need to use their time,
efforts and our tax money educating students, and parents should be
responsible for their children's health issues.

Carole (Maxwell) Smart

Marion