NOVI LOOKS TO JOIN THE SCHOOLS WITH RANDOM DRUG TESTS

Some Find the Idea Unjust, Intrusive

The idea of random drug testing at Novi High School is already making
students think twice about smoking a joint.

The Novi Community School District's athletic committee is considering
testing as it makes recommendations to update the district's
20-year-old student-athlete code of conduct policy. If approved, Novi
would become one of a few Michigan districts to test athletes.

Novi senior class president B.J. Chaklos, 17, said Tuesday he knows of
some students who already have stopped using marijuana.

"Kids thought it was going to be starting Oct. 15," he said. "I know
select individuals who have stopped using even though it was just a
rumor."

Along with testing, the proposal calls for athletes to miss 25 percent
of the season if they are caught using drugs or alcohol even once.
Some think the plan is too strict.

"The dissent is a lot more vocal and a lot louder than the support,"
said Curtis Ellis, athletic director for the district. "But it's very
difficult to argue that these aren't proactive, positive things."

Drug testing in schools is so controversial that the debate found its
way to the Supreme Court in the 1990s. Justices ruled it
constitutional.

Still, the American Civil Liberties Union maintains there should be
good reason for testing kids before doing so.

"This kind of invasion of privacy should not be a condition for
voluntary participation in school activities, especially when drug
testing is often inaccurate and an ineffective means of dealing with
drug abuse," said Wendy Wagenheim, communications director for ACLU of
Michigan. "If there is no apparent problem or no reason to suspect
that a student is using drugs, why test them?"

A 2003 University of Michigan study showed little difference in drug
use among students at schools where there was drug testing and those
where there wasn't.

Some parents also take issue with the testing possibility.

"Our kids are praised ... for their hard work and commitment, and
they're told that they represent the school as the best, brightest,
and talented. Then they are going to be shamefully pulled aside and
asked to urinate in a cup," said Novi resident Kathleen Bartlett,
whose 16-year-old son is a varsity football player at Novi High School.

"I appreciate that the school district wants to help deter our kids
from drugs, but a drug testing policy usurps my authority as a parent."

Grand Blanc High School paved the way for testing in Michigan six
years ago, and its policies survived a circuit court lawsuit. Two
years ago, Huron School District in New Boston began mandatory and
random drug testing of its athletes in high school and middle school.

"Our student advisory committee told us that if we're serious about
helping kids, we'd have to test the middle school as well because drug
use has started in the seventh and eighth grades, not the ninth and
10th grades," said Rick Dorn, athletic director.

Dorn wouldn't reveal how many positive tests the district has
had.

In six years, Grand Blanc principal Mike Newton said, fewer than 10
students tested positive. And as many as 15 to 18 students are tested
a week per season. But he said the program still is worth it,
primarily because it gives students an excuse to say no to peer pressure.

This fall, Clio High School started drug testing its athletes, and
last spring Lake Fenton High School in Fenton began tests.

Novi Schools Board President John Streit said he is waiting to see an
updated proposal before offering an opinion. The board saw the first
draft in the fall. The district is planning public informational
meetings after the holiday break.

John Johnson, communications director for the Michigan High School
Athletic Association said not a lot of schools have utilized drug testing.

"It was thought that there would be a rush of schools getting into
drug testing when the Supreme Court ruled ... that extracurricular
activities are a privilege and this could be a part of that," Johnson
said. "It never happened. I believe cost has been an issue."

Grand Blanc's Newton said his school spends about $10,000 a year to
have the testing program, adding that sometimes it is grant money.

At both Grand Blanc and Clio high schools, students are not punished
directly for failing a test. At Grand Blanc, for instance, a student
who tests positive must test each week for six more consecutive weeks.
A positive during that time brings suspension from the sports team.

The Novi Schools Board is deciding on dates for informational meetings
on the policy. Letters to the district may be sent to 25345 Taft Road,
Novi 48374. Or call district headquarters at 248-449-1200.

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FAMILIES CAN TRY HOME DRUG TESTS

The Novi School District is considering random drug testing. High
schools in Grand Blanc, Clio, Fenton and New Boston already do the
testing.

Some agencies are providing ways for parents to test kids on their
own. For instance, Davison High School sells drug tests for parents to
do home exams.

Parents who want to test at home can find kits for sale at stores
including Walgreens and CVS.

Farmington Hills residents can pick up free kits, through January,
from their Police Department's records department at 31655 W. Eleven
Mile, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.