VERNON HIGH SCHOOL CONSIDERS RANDOM DRUG TESTING

The Vernon school board is considering randomly drug testing students
at the township's high school next fall.

The program would be similar to ones implemented in recent years at
about 26 school districts in the state, school officials said Tuesday
night to a crowd of parents, faculty members and students at a public
forum.

The students who would be subject to random testing include those who
participate in athletics, clubs or activities. Students who drive to
school could also be tested.

The crowd of more than 50 people was sharply divided about the
matter. The school board was also split.

Advocates of random drug testing contend it allows schools to fight a
rising societal tide of teenagers drug and alcohol abuse and provides
students with a tool to fight peer pressure.

Those opposed to random drug testing cited as concerns that it would
amount to an invasion of privacy and a usurping of parental rights
and it would send the wrong message to students.