NEXT STEP VS. DRUGS

Alamance-Burlington schools have a drug problem.

Still.

It's not worse than in most other systems, Superintendent James Merrill
points out. But it hasn't gone away, even after the arrests last year of 50
high school students for selling drugs. The charges stemmed from a police
operation involving youthful undercover officers posing as students.

Now, a new plan calls for random drug testing of high school students who
participate in sports and other extracurricular activities. The proposal is
likely to go into effect next school year, according to Board of Education
leaders.

"I'm ready to approve it," Chairman Tom Manning said Thursday.

"I think it's great," Vice Chairwoman Brenda Foster said. "High school
students are still children. This is one way to keep them healthy and safe."

The proposed policy declares drug testing is necessary "in light of the
documented sale, possession and use of illegal drugs by Alamance-Burlington
students, evidenced by parent and teacher surveys and undercover law
enforcement operations."

That doesn't mean last year's arrests weren't effective, Merrill stressed.
More students are paying attention to drug activity and talking to adults
about it. But that's not enough.

The policy will require a student and his or her parent or guardian to
permit random drug tests as a condition of the student's participation in
extracurricular activities. A positive test brings a three-month suspension
from activities, with reinstatement contingent on completion of an
assistance program. The suspension is one year for a second violation and
the rest of the student's high school career for the third.

Merrill calls the policy carefully crafted to comply with court rulings.
While the general student population can't be forced to submit to drug
testing, students who choose to participate in extracurricular activities can.

The policy addresses some obvious concerns, promising that students won't
be punished in any other way, their privacy will be guarded and
law-enforcement agencies won't be notified of test results. The program's
integrity depends on keeping those promises.

Also potentially troubling is a provision that allows testing "whenever
reasonable suspicion exists."

Merrill says schools already have the authority to impose suspicion-based
testing but rarely use it. Caution is wise because it's too easy to develop
suspicions based on prejudice.

A fairly administered random testing program, on the other hand, can be
justified if it deters students from using drugs or gets help for those
with drug habits -- and informs previously unaware parents.

Drug screening has become a condition of employment at many businesses. The
practice can be perceived as intrusive and insulting, but that's the price
some employers demand for maintaining a drug-free workplace.
Alamance-Burlington school officials believe they should do all they can to
discourage drug use among students.

Guilford County Schools should observe closely to see whether a similar
effort here might alleviate a problem that exists just about everywhere.