DRUG TESTING IN SCHOOLS ON MONDAY'S AGENDA

PORTER TWP. -- People will have a chance to voice their comments on
possible drug testing of students in the Porter Township School Corp.
during a meeting Monday night.

A public round-table discussion will be held at Boone Grove High
School on drug education and testing students for drugs.

The school district wants to gauge public sentiment before beginning
a policy, Superintendent Nick Brown said.

"It has the potential to be a controversial topic," he
said.

The discussion will allow everyone, including school officials, to
ask questions, Brown said.

Issues to be discussed will include the type of testing, who should
be tested, and how would students be selected for testing.

Brown said it's still not decided whether drug testing should be done
at all.

The idea for a drug-testing policy came after a Porter County Drug
Task Force symposium in early fall.

"It had been brought to my attention by some staff and board
members," Brown said. "If it was to save even one student's life, it
would be worth it," he said.

"We're not saying there's a problem, but every community has an
issue."

If the School Board wanted to rush the issue, it could have a policy
ready by fall, although it could take a year or more to develop one.

"But we really don't have a time line on that," Brown said. "On a
policy this important, you don't want to rush it."