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More Schools Examine Drug Testing For Students

Drug testing isn't just an issue among professional athletes who earn
multimillion-dollar salaries.

It applies to high school football players, teens who drive to school
and even choir students, in some cases.

Officials in the Lake Central School Corp. are considering
implementing a revised random drug testing policy, one that is more
aggressive than its existing policy.

In Porter Township Schools, a public forum with the superintendent in
March drew supporters of a drug testing program. The school
corporation is continuing to examine a policy and could have
something in place for next fall.

Hobart School Superintendent John Leach said the district doesn't
have a random drug testing policy but has considered it.

The issue of random drug testing is always under consideration in
Crown Point, but high school Principal Ryan Pitcock said there is no
plan for implementation.

"I'm aware of the programs that other schools are doing," he said.
"At best, the results are mixed as to whether they feel their
students are benefitting."

Munster school officials see the benefits.

Last year, 10 percent of the students' random drug test came back
positive. This year, that number is down to about 5 percent, said
Munster High School Assistant Principal Al Gandolfi.

"I truly believe it's a deterrent," Gandolfi said.

It gives students an excuse to say no to drugs.

That sentiment is echoed by officials at Homewood-Flossmoor High
School in Flossmoor.

"If there's any peer pressure, this program gives the student an
opportunity to say 'No, because I may be randomly tested,'" said H-F
spokesman David Thieman.

Lake Central's working policy, which could go into effect this fall,
would randomly test student drivers and anyone involved in
extracurricular activities. It would affect about 3,000 students
between seventh and 12th grades.

Munster tests five students a week who are in extracurricular
activities and co-curricular activities, such as speech, band and
choir, Gandolfi said.

Athletes at H-F High School have been randomly tested for drugs since
1989, Thieman said.

The high school has 28 sports with 1,600 participants. About 20
in-season athletes are tested every two weeks, said Ross Howatt,
director of athletics and student activities at H-F.

Howatt said he couldn't get into specific numbers about how many
students test positively because that information is confidential.

Merrillville Community School Corp. has completed its third week of
random drug testing.

The School Board approved a policy earlier this year, requiring
students who drive to school or participate in spring sports to sign
a pledge agreeing to the testing.

The policy applies to students at Merrillville High School and Pierce
Middle School.

Merrillville High School Principal Michael Krutz said the
Indianapolis-based company that handles the testing sends a list of
students selected randomly by their identification numbers.

The company administers the tests at a designated on-site location.
Each week, 10 students and two alternates are called in for testing.
Of the 30 students tested so far, the high school hasn't found
anything "out of the ordinary," Krutz said.

While proponents of the test say it's a good way to detect and deter
drug usage, critics say it's a violation of privacy.

Howatt, for his first master's degree, wrote a paper about random
drug testing in high schools. The paper included a survey of
Homewood-Flossmoor area parents, students, faculty and community
members. And 90 percent of them didn't think it was a violation of
privacy, he said.

Gandolfi said it's good that people understand the level of confidentiality.

"On the first test, if it fails, I don't even get those results," he said.

Consequences of a student failing the drug test vary among schools.

"There are ramifications to a positive drug test, maybe counseling if
the parent or student so chooses, and withdrawal from the team,"
Thieman said of H-F's policy.

Lake Central's policy would have a "professional help" component to
it, if a student tests positive, said Assistant Superintendent Rocky Killion.

Times staff writer Carmen McCollum contributed to this report.