DRUG-TESTING PLAN IS A GOOD CHOICE

Tuesday night I attended the South Rowan High School parent meeting to
discuss the proposed policy on random drug testing of students who purchase
parking permits.

Admittedly, I went with concerns about our school board implementing
another policy that we could do nothing about. I heard my concerns voiced
by others before the meeting started. Why single out kids who drive? Do
they have the right to take students off campus to be tested? Is this the
pilot for a countywide program?

Parents seemed to favor testing. The concern was that the test group was
too small or isolated. Dr. Ron Turbyfill, the principal, explained that for
the policy to be legally accepted, there has to be an opt-out for the
students. If you don't want to be tested, don't purchase a parking permit.
Driving and having a place to park are not rights; they are privileges.
This is probably the largest cross-section of students who are
identifiable. What other group would you want to know is not under the
influence?

At $25 per test, what school or parent would not want this policy? Parents
should view this as a deterrent to substance abuse.

I went to this meeting thinking that I was tired of the school system
trying to do whatever they wanted with our kids. Sometime during the
meeting, I realized that they are trying to do what they can for our kids.
This is a good program. It may not be broad enough, but it is better than
no program.

Dale Elliott

Salisbury