PENDER SCHOOLS TO DRUG TEST

System Takes Lead In Area For Screening All New Employees

Pender County Schools will be the first district in the area to drug test
all new employees.

In a unanimous vote Monday, the Pender County Board of Education approved a
proposal that will require a pre-employment drug screening of all
applicants that are offered jobs.

Ted Kaniuka, Pender County Schools superintendent, said he's excited the
district is able to implement this measure because it ensures that the most
qualified employees are being hired to educate the county's children --
something parents will appreciate.

Some parents lobbied to broaden the scope of pre-employment drug screening
after the heroin overdose of a former Pender elementary school teacher last
December.

"We've been extremely fortunate to have no concerns about our teachers
while they've been employed with us," Dr. Kaniuka said, adding that drug
testing will boost the level of confidence parents have in the school system.

Changes to the district's 10-year-old drug and alcohol testing policy have
been a topic of discussion in school board meetings since February.

During the past month, the Pender school board randomly surveyed 42
teachers that were hired last school year to see if required drug testing
would've deterred them from applying for jobs.

Dr. Kaniuka said the survey showed a unanimous response that a required
drug screening would not prevent teachers from wanting to work in the
Pender County school district.

He said he doesn't expect a decrease in the amount of people that apply for
jobs next school year once the new measure begins.

The pre-employment drug testing will cost the district about $30,000 to
implement, Dr. Kaniuka said. The district hires about 100 new employees
each year.

Its previous policy required pre-employment and random drug testing of bus
drivers and others who operate county-owned vehicles. The new policy will
not extend random drug testing to other employees.

In Brunswick County, a proposal to screen potential employees for drug use
has been discussed in the district's recent human resource committee meetings.

John Michaux, executive director of human resources for Brunswick County
Schools, said the committee has incorporated funds in its 2005-06 budget
proposal to add the measure but has not submitted a revised policy to the
county's school board.

New Hanover County Schools officials said there are no plans to change the
system's policy.