DRUG TEST CLEARS TEENS

Students miss out on graduation

Two Grade 8 students are counting on modern science to get them off
the hook with Peel District School Board officials who have accused
them of taking drugs while on a class field trip.

The students, Kris Ioannou, 14, and John Damianoff, 13, of David
Leeder Middle School in Meadowvale Village were sent home early from a
class trip to Montreal and Ottawa last Wednesday when school officials
say they were caught smoking marijuana in a hotel bathroom.

The students say they are innocent, that they walked in on classmates
who were smoking up, and now they have a laboratory report to back
them up.

By the time the pair arrived home Wednesday night, parents Kim and
Steve Ioannou and Jane and James Damianoff had already arranged for an
agent of Ontario Substance Abuse Detection Inc. (OSAD), a private
business that specializes in on-site drug tests, to administer a urine
test that would either prove or dismiss the boys' claims of innocence.

After conducting the tests, Rick Sytsma of OSAD cleared the boys of
drug use.

"If marijuana had been used...it would have shown up," said OSAD head
Greg Nixon, adding the tests are 99 per cent accurate and have been
proven in court.

The next day, Kim brought her son to see family pediatrician Dr. James
Mackinnon, who ran another test that confirmed the absence of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana.

However, despite evidence that appears to prove the boys' innocence,
David Leeder principal Beverley Staddon suspended both students for
the final three days of school and banned them from attending the
Grade 8 graduation dance.

In a letter Staddon sent to the Ioannous, Staddon wrote "the reason
for the suspension is an act considered by the principal to be
injurious to the moral tone of the school or to the physical and
mental well being of others. One of the boys put a small amount of
marijuana in a drug pipe, lit it and passed it. All three boys,
including Kris, puffed on the pipe."

While Staddon had "no comment" on her decision, Peel District School
Board spokesperson Brian Woodland said "even being in the room with
individuals using drugs is absolute cause for suspension.

"If a student walks into a room and sees illegal drugs, we expect them
to tell someone," said Woodland.

Asked if this was the first time a student's parent had brought in a
drug test, Woodland said he has witnessed many parents go to extreme
lengths to protect their children.

Woodland went on the say the school board sent a superintendent to
review the case as "no suspension is given lightly.

"This is not a knee-jerk reaction. It was a fair review of the facts
of the case," said Woodland, adding punishment to both boys could have
been much more severe.

Jane Damianoff said she called Peel District School Board Ward 6
trustee Warren Kennedy regarding the incident. Kennedy said he was
reluctant to get involved, indicating he felt the school board had
been fair with both boys.

"It's not my job as trustee to get involved (in disciplinary
matters)," Kennedy told The News. "I'm not elected to play judge and
jury."

Kennedy indicated his role as trustee is "policy making" and said the
school conducted a "proper and thorough" investigation. He added the
board is skeptical of drug tests.

However, Jane Damianoff remains unconvinced, saying her son John has
never been in trouble at school and does not use drugs.

Kim Ioannou said she wants a public apology for the embarrassment and
pain Kris endured and she hopes to be reimbursed for the $625 she
spent on the trip, the $50 Kris spent on a bus ticket home and the
$100 cost of the drug test.

"Our son, he stays away from the real serious drug issues," said Kim,
46. "First and foremost, we want the clearing of our son's name."

Late last night, after the Damianoffs said they had met with school
officials, they had backed off from many of their demands and both
parent groups said they were willing to put the issue behind them.

The Damianoffs also said the school board officials had reduced the
charge against their son and were now suspending him for
"inappropriate behaviour." The News was unable to confirm that change
last night.

Still, James Damianoff said the board was sticking to its policy of
not accepting drug testing.

"Even if the boys didn't use marijuana, the board won't accept the
test," said James Damianoff, a chemist, adding that he is confident in
the procedure. He believes that if testing proves someone is innocent,
the board should accept it.