HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS DEBATE DRUG TESTING

Proponents of random drug testing say it would give students a way out
when faced with the widespread pressure to use illicit substances,
giving them a reason to say no if athletics, after-school clubs, or
their precious driving privileges were at stake.

But its detractors criticize the policy as a potentially embarrassing
violation of privacy and a discriminatory measure that singles out
students who choose to participate in extracurricular activities.
There also is no proof that random drug testing works, they argue.

Hillsborough is wrestling with these dueling sides as it debates
whether to join a small but growing number of New Jersey school
districts that subject a select group of students to random drug
testing. Under a draft policy released last week, students who
participate in extracurricular activities or apply for a parking
permit would be thrown into a computerized pool, which would then
randomly choose names throughout the year.

Much like policies at other New Jersey districts, Hillsborough's
policy would approach random drug testing in an educational, rather
than punitive, manner, officials said.

At Hunterdon Central Regional High School, whose policy Hillsborough's
is modeled after, students caught with drugs in their system are
required to attend five counseling sessions, and are not expelled or
suspended. But the students are barred from the extracurricular
activity for up to 28 days, said Lisa Brady, superintendent at
Hunterdon Central.

"It's about sending a very clear message to young people that drugs
and alcohol use is unacceptable," Brady said. "It's important for
schools to step up to the plate and say it is unacceptable. Random
drug testing gives them a means to say no."

Some 20 districts in New Jersey allow school officials to randomly
test their students, including Hanover Park, Brick Township, Secaucus
and North Brunswick.

At the 2,500-student Hillsborough High School, a bit over 70 percent
would be eligible to be tested, Principal Karen Bingert said.
Estimates show random drug testing, using urine or saliva, would cost
the district about $9,000 a year, school board member David Kanaby
said.

Now, the Hillsborough district tests only students who are suspected
of being under the influence, officials said.

Because random drug testing is relatively new, few conclusive studies
are available on whether the policy works.

Brady said her district's policy -- the first of its kind in New
Jersey -- was successful. A survey showed drug and alcohol use had
dropped when the policy was implemented, but shot back up when the
district voluntarily suspended the policy while it was challenged in
court.

The state Supreme Court in 2003 declared that testing students in
extracurricular activities was constitutional. That decision mirrored
a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court the year before.

But an oft-cited 2003 University of Michigan study of about 73,000
students nationwide showed eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders in
districts that used random drug testing had essentially identical
rates of drug use as those in schools that did not.

At least two members on the divided Hillsborough board of education
during a recent public hearing also criticized the policy as
discriminatory.

"I wish we could test everybody we can," board member Frank Blandino
said. "We can't, so I'm against it."

According to a survey administered to roughly 1,200 students at
Hillsborough High School during the 2004-05 school year, about 57
percent of freshmen had tried alcohol, compared with 74 percent of
seniors. As for marijuana, 9 percent of those freshmen had used the
drug, while 12 percent of seniors had.

"If they're doing it and not getting caught, the law is not a factor,"
said Beth Murrin, the girls lacrosse and gymnastics coach at
Hillsborough High School. "We don't have a means to address it at this
point."

"People shouldn't be opposing it if they're not doing it," added
Alyssa Fedak, a senior at Hillsborough High School. "The law is
obviously not stopping those kids, so we need something."

The policy will be up for a first reading at the Jan. 28 school board
meeting, and could be finalized as soon as next month. That could
allow the district to make a March application deadline for an
estimated $12.5 million in federal funds available to help schools pay
for random drug testing programs.

If approved, the policy could be implemented by September.