SCHOOL BOARD SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT

Reactions to Dare County Schools' proposed Random Drug Testing Policy
were mixed at the first of three public meetings scheduled to allow
public comment on the topic.

About 35 parents and other interested community members attended the
first meeting that was held Thursday night at First Flight Middle School.

School board Chairman David Oaksmith opened the meeting by stating
that "If we can save one child, it will be worth the time and effort
we have put into the program."

He introduced Nancy Griffin, Dare County Schools Director of Student
Services, who presented the policy. Audience members asked questions
and delivered statements regarding their reactions to the proposed
policy.

Eight members of the audience spoke about their views on the policy.
Their reaction was split, with both strong support and lack of support
voiced. Regardless of their position on the policy as a whole, most
supported having the schools provide more substance abuse education in
the early grades. Other reactions included appreciation for the
efforts of the board in addressing such a broad and important task;
hopefulness that the policy could help prevent students from becoming
heavily involved in abuse of substances which could lead them into the
court system; the belief that this area is the business of the
parents, and not the school board; impressions that the policy seemed
punitive.

THE POLICY

The introduction to the policy states that "The Dare County Board of
Education strongly believes that drug and substance abuse can be
detrimental to the physical and emotional health and the academic
performance of its students. It is from this belief and out of concern for
students' well-being that a random drug-testing program is initiated in the
Dare County Schools. The purpose of this drug testing program is to help
students, not to be punitive. Therefore:

A positive test will not result in suspension from school or
notification to legal authorities.

A first positive test will be reported only to parents and will not
result in ineligibility from any school activities.

INDICATORS OF THE NEED

Griffin introduced her presentation by stating that the Board of
Education goal is to "continue to explore ways to reduce the dropout
rate, including an emphasis on substance abuse prevention." She shared
the following indicators of the need to emphasize substance abuse
prevention:

The Community Needs Assessment conducted by Healthy Carolinians of the
Outer banks identified substance abuse as Dare County's leading health
problem in 2002.

The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council continues to identify community
alcohol and drug use as the No. 1 risk factor for Dare County youth.

According to the NC Department of Juvenile Justice, Dare County
continues to have higher rates than the state average of: delinquent
complaints, delinquent juveniles, total court involved youth, youth
secure detentions, youth development center commitments.

According to arrest reports of county and municipal law enforcement,
more than 1,200 arrests of youth under 18 were made in Dare County for
drug and alcohol related offenses from 2001 to 2004.

Local youth represented 56 percent of the county arrests.

Department of Public Instruction's' report on school Crime and
Violence indicated Dare County Schools had higher rates of acts of
possession of controlled substances and alcohol than 70% of NC school
districts in 2003-04.

While the board has indicated considers the primary responsibility for
addressing substance abuse by students to rest with parents, they
believe that the school system and community at large also have a
responsibility for addressing substance abuse by students. They also
believe that the school system has a particular responsibility to
promote excellent student achievement in a safe, healthy and caring
environment and to promote a culture of safe and drug-free schools and
communities.

STUDENTS SUBJECT TO THE TESTING (from the policy)

All students in grades 7-12 who desire to participate in any of the
following voluntary school activities or privileges must agree to
participate in the random drug testing program: Interscholastic
athletics; other voluntary extracurricular activities; and campus
parking privileges.

The program is mandatory only for students who elect to participate
these activities, which are a privilege not a right. Participation in
the random drug testing program shall not be required as a condition
of attending school or enrolling in any for-credit class.

Parents of other students, not participating in these programs, may
also consent to having their student voluntarily participate in the
program.

Substances for which students will be tested shall include marijuana
(THC), amphetamines, alcohol, cocaine, opiates, PCP, test
adulterants.

THE POLICY

The entire proposed Random Suspicionless Drug Testing Policy can be
found on the web site of the Dare County Schools, http://www.dare.K12.nc.us.
Copies will also be available at each of the public hearings. In
addition to selected items presented above, the policy addresses
Findings (of the Board related to the need); Goals of random drug
testing program; Students subject to random drug testing program;
Implementation; Consequences of positive tests; Substance abuse
assessment/counseling requirement; Test procedures and safeguards;
Medical review officer; Method of collecting urine samples.

The next hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Cape
Hatteras Secondary School in the cafeteria/auditorium. The third and
last hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, prior to the Board of
Education meeting being held at Manteo Middle School in the
auditorium.