Copyright 1997 The Seattle Times Company

Schools in Blaine drop drugtesting program plan

by Mike Lindblom
Seattle Times Eastside bureau

While Northshore School District leaders consider a proposal to drugtest
studentathletes, a smaller district has just abandoned the idea.

The Blaine School District, next to the U.S.Canadian border, says it will
drop a proposal to conduct random urinalysis on students in extracurricular
activities.

"Our risk (insurance) policy won't cover this and won't risk litigation.
They did quite a bit of research and advised us not to do it," Blaine
School Board Chairman William Murphy said yesterday.

The American Civil Liberties Union and parents in both Northshore and
Blaine have threatened lawsuits if drug tests are enacted. However, a
drugtesting program in Burlington has just survived into its second year,
and Granite Falls has just started one.

"In Burlington, like Granite Falls, they don't have anyone opposing it,"
Murphy explained. "It's kind of liberal here, and we're next to the border,
but in Burlington people are loggers and farmers, and Granite Falls (is) a
little more conservative."

The news from Blaine didn't come up when the Northshore district's task
force on drug testing met yesterday afternoon, district spokeswoman Pamela
Steele said. The task force is scheduled to make its recommendation before
a School Board meeting Nov. 12. Northshore's insurance representative
couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.

A 1995 U.S. Supreme Court ruling upheld drug testing of Vernonia, Ore.,
athletes, but the court invalidated a New Jersey program this summer.

Student speakers during an Oct. 6 Northshore forum were mostly critical of
random urinalysis. However, an instant electronic poll of about 100
students found many who felt such testing could reduce drug use.

Instead of drugtesting students, Blaine's school board will consider
hiring a fulltime drug counselor and revise its curriculum on drug use and
abuse.