SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS DRUG TESTING POLICY

No. Bruns. Students Involved In Activities Now Must Comply

A policy to allow random drug testing of all North Brunswick students
engaged in athletics, extracurricular activities and authorized to park on
school premises has been approved.

The program is designed to promote health and safety, deter drug use,
counter peer pressure, which may encourage indulgence and encourage
rehabilitative programs, according to the policy.

Although the Board of Education voted unanimously to support the measure at
its Aug. 25 meeting, student representative Michael Padovano disagreed with
the decision.

"At first, I thought it was a good idea. When I did my research, nothing
makes this a good idea. In most cases it doesn't help," he said.
"Basically, you guys are making it guilty until proven innocent, which
isn't our amendment right. You are testing the wrong kids. You are pushing
the kids who are using drugs further away from these activities [that] can
help them."

The board defended its decision to allow the policy to be put into effect,
but stated that all students should be subjected to the policy.

"Until the [U.S.] Supreme Court allows us to test every student it's the
only way we can start," said Claire Padovano, a school board member and
Michael's mother.

"We can do nothing -- that's one choice -- we can do nothing or we can do
something. I speak for myself when I say I think we can do something. I
agree with what [Michael is] saying, everybody should be tested.
Unfortunately, that is the policy that's passed muster," board member James
Curran said.

The policy stems from a Supreme Court ruling in 2003 in Joye v. Hunterdon
Central High School, in Flemington, to uphold a drug testing policy it had
implemented in 1997, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of New
Jersey Web site.

However, an important issue is if and how the program can be measured as
successful.

"How would we understand if what we're doing is successful or not? I think
it's incumbent upon us as a board to estimate some criteria as to how we
know we're successful," board member Bruce Kenney said.

Superintendent of Schools Robert Rimmer said he would inquire to Hunterdon
Central about how they measure the success of the program and if their
superintendent feels it is a valuable step in drug prevention.

Yet Michael Padovano feels that whether or not the program is successful in
deterring drug use, the obligation should not lie with the school system.

"It seems like more and more, the job of mom and dad is more on the Board
of Education and more on teachers," he said. He added that it is the job of
the parents to test their children if they feel they are using drugs.

In response, board President Gail DiPane said, "There are a minority of
parents [that take the responsibility]. It is very frustrating as a board
member. We would love to go out there and test everybody legally. Times are
changing and our responsibility is to protect the students and the teachers."

According to the policy, all students wishing to participate in parking,
athletics or extracurricular activities must complete a consent form prior
to the student being granted the privilege. The identification numbers of
all participating students will be placed in a pool from which a designated
administrator will randomly draw at least 10 percent of the names annually.
The selected students will be immediately notified and tested with a
courtesy phone call to their parents. The saliva, urine and/or breath
specimens will contain an assigned identification number so as to keep the
student's identity confidential.

The first infraction requires the removal of the student from school by
his/her parents, a mandatory medical examination, four days of a
prevention/education program, and five counseling sessions with the student
assistance coordinator with possible intervention and suspension from their
team, activity and parking privileges until completion of the prevention
program and a drug and alcohol test is submitted without traces of any
substances.

The second infraction calls for removal from school, a mandatory medical
examination, suspension from participation for 60 days, five days of a
prevention program, 10 days of counseling sessions with the student
assistance coordinator with possible intervention and a test free of
alcohol and drug traces prior to participation after the 60-day suspension.

Although the policy did not pass in time for a statement to be printed in
the 2005-06 student handbooks, handouts will be given out at Linwood Middle
School and the North Brunswick Township High School and will be included
with the athletic handbook.