DRUG TESTING PLAN DELAYED IN PITMAN

PITMAN -- Action on a proposal to implement random drug testing of student
athletes as early as next school year has been put on hold.

The Pitman Board of Education voted late Tuesday evening in favor of tabling
the plan and giving new superintendent Thomas Schulte the assignment of
looking into possible alternatives to reduce illegal drug use among
students. Schulte will fill the superintendent post when Dr. Robert Campbell
retires July 15.

The board reached the decision after a heated public hearing in which
several students spoke out against the proposal.

"I do feel that they definitely listened to us and that all the students
being there had an effect on what happened," Julia Hays, a 17-year-old
junior who competes in track and tennis, said Wednesday. She was joined by
about 20 classmates at Tuesday's meeting.

"I was happy to see that the board respected what we had to say," Hays said.

Board member Barry Owen said he was pleased with the turnout of students at
the meeting.

"They put that presentation together on short notice," he said. "I think
they were prepared and are going to be sticking with the effort. It's a very
determined group of students."

Owen added that he needs to see more compelling evidence in order to feel
comfortable approving the policy.

Wayne Murschell, high school athletic director, presented a 31-page report
Tuesday detailing the findings of a committee formed 18 months ago to
explore the possibility of implementing testing. He said various "red flags"
concerning drug use among student athletes motivated the study.

He said the committee ultimately decided providing students an excuse for
saying no and the associated risk of getting removed from athletic
competition would be a deterrent for students to use illegal drugs.

Students opposing the measure said the testing would infringe upon student
privacy, cause conflict between students and administration and single out
athletes.

Concern was also expressed over whether testing has proven to be effective
and whether the expense of testing would be beneficial. A recent study by
the University of Michigan was cited, which concluded that random testing of
students does not deter drug use.

If implemented, the tests would cost the district roughly $18 per test. The
policy would replace the existing practice of testing under suspicion. Two
students have been tested this school year under the current policy. Both
tests results came back positive.

Pitman would be the 12th district in the state to implement a random testing
policy for athletes and the fourth in the county, joining Washington
Township, Clearview Regional and West Deptford school districts.