DRUG TESTING POLICY BEING DISCUSSED BY SALEM COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

More Research Needed Before Enacting Random Testing

Salem Community High School (SCHS) Superintendent Barb Smith brought a
potentially controversial matter to the SCHS school board on Tuesday
for board discussion and approval, regarding a policy change.
Recently, the school has been reorganizing their policies according to
the Illinois Association of School Boards' policies. Smith told the
board when she got to policy 7.240, conduct code for participation in
extra-curricular activities, she realized she should seek the sanction
of the board. The policy establishes random alcohol and drug testing
for all students involved in extra-curricular activities.

The policy would not necessarily require SCHS to start testing, it
would merely give them the option to test students. According to
Principal Brad Deterring, two other schools in the Apollo Conference
have policies regarding testing, Robinson and Paris. Deterring also
mentioned Centralia, Effingham, and Fairfield also have drug and
alcohol testing policies. Although Effingham has a policy which would
allow them to test, they haven't yet begun to test any students under
the policy.

Deterring said, "They [Effingham High School] have a wait-and-see
attitude about the policy right now. They just recovered from a five
year legal battle and I think they are being cautious."

Deterring mentioned legal issues have surrounded the schools that have
begun testing. Fairfield reportedly got into some trouble because they
singled out only athletes for testing, rather than all
extra-curricular participants, creating an atmosphere of
discrimination. He also mentioned some contentious attitudes in Paris
regarding the testing, which parents were opposed to when many
basketball team members were punished. Deterring noted the testing was
not challenged there, but rather the athletic codes and the
punishments.

The cost of random testing was also discussed by the board. Robert
Phillips, board member, mentioned Centralia has students tested at the
hospital, which costs around $70 per test. But, if the student is
found positive, they are responsible for the cost of the testing.

Also, Phillips noted most of the student body is "put in the hat" for
random tests because Centralia tests all students who choose to drive
to school, as driving to school and parking on school grounds are
privileges, and are considered extra-curricular in nature. Thus,
giving them the authority to test most of the students in the high
school.

"We need to do plenty of research to avoid these problems. We will get
the policy in next year, not this year. We need to fully research this
before we set a policy," said Eric Bandy, board president.

The board fears lawsuits will pop up if they move too quickly with the
policy before doing some extensive research. Smith and the board
agreed that waiting until the 2008-2009 school year would be the best
move, after all the research had been done, and it also gave students
and parents a year to digest such a big move.

Smith stated, "We do not and never have had a testing policy. It will
be a big change for parents and students."

She also explained that she did not think drug use was a problem with
SCHS students, but rather the policy would be precautionary.

"This policy was originally set up for steroids, which trickled down
from professional sports. But it probably prevents students from
smoking dope and drinking if they know they may get kicked off the
team," said Smith.