BOARD EYES WAYS TO CURB DRUG USE

Members Are Not Ready For Random Student Searches; Instead They
Called For A Study Session Where Parents And Officials Can Discuss
The Larger Drug Issue

The San Luis Coastal school board this week discussed two methods of
dissuading drug use in schools, even though one is already covered in
a rarely used board policy that allows drug-sniffing dogs on campus.

The question and the policy came up when the staff reported back to
the board at this week's meeting on two possible drug deterrent
measures: using such dogs for searches, and random drug testing of
students in extracurricular activities such as sports.

The board majority at Tuesday's meeting did not send either question
on to the district's legal counsel or take actions that would lead to
their regular use, instead opting to plan a study session where
parents, staff and drug abuse experts discuss the larger question of
drug use among students.

As board members spoke, a clear majority expressed reservations about
random drug testing.

Superintendent Ed Valentine said Wednesday that it could take weeks
and additional board meetings to plan the scope of the study session.

"It's clear that the board was mixed but thought the overall topic
merited discussion," Valentine said.

Drug-sniffing dogs have been used in the past--more than three years
ago, at least, said Rick Robinett, the district's director of
personnel services.

Robinett said dogs that sniff out drugs or even explosives can always
be used on campus for safety purposes, but the district has to be
aware of problems in targeting individuals. He cited a 2000 opinion
by the California attorney general ad-

vising districts against the use of drug dogs for random searches.

Board member Kathryn Eisendrath-Rogers, who has asked the staff to
explore the merits of both drug deterrents, made a motion to remove
the drug-dog policy based on Robinett's report. But her motion was
withdrawn, because it was not on the meeting agenda.

Board members indicated without a vote that they may explore the
drug-dog policy more thoroughly at an unspecified time in the future.

Board member Mark Buchman said he had reservations about dropping the
drug-dog policy entirely, because it could have some valid uses if a
real problem presented itself at a school.

While using drug dogs raises legal issues, Robinett reported, the
random testing of students involved in extracurricular activities has
stood on firmer legal ground. Athletes in Paso Robles, Shandon and
Templeton schools already face the possibility of such testing.

The California Healthy Kids Survey suggests drugs are widely
available and frequently used in SLO Coastal's schools, as they are
in schools countywide. The survey found that 18 percent of the
district's freshmen who responded reported using marijuana at least
once, while 42 percent of juniors reported the same thing.

Those who addressed the board represented different viewpoints.

Victor Ecklund, San Luis Obispo High School's athletic director, said
many coaches believe drug testing could be an effective tool to help
a student, as long as it is used as a positive tool and does not
single out some athletes over others.

SLO High swim coach Richard Ernstrom said students can use the random
tests as a legitimate explanation to friends for why they cannot use drugs.

"I would like to approach this from a position of peer pressure,"
Ernstrom said.

Parent Bob Shanbrom took a strong stand against searches and testing,
noting what was proposed "is not using the community approach but
using the Gestapo approach."

Board member Walt Millar said at the Tuesday meeting that if it had
the support of teams and coaches and everybody buys in, he could
possibly consider random testing.

But he emphasized later in the week that he has great reservations
about testing.

Millar said schools cannot solve all the ills that face a community,
likening the drug issue to the belief that schools can solve the
national childhood obesity problem.

"It's much like how there's this whole belief that somehow if we
tweak a school lunch, it will make up for all the hours kids sit in
front of television and play video games," he said.

Eisendrath-Rogers said she was happy the larger discussion about
drugs will take place, and that she is reserving judgment on the
issue of random testing.

"I'm the parent of a student at the high school," she said. "This is
a concern to parents. This is a concern to kids. I want it to be
examined without bias."