DRUG PROGRAM TO BE ALTERED

MILFORD - Milford board members put the brakes on part of the
district's drug testing program.

Members of the Milford Exempted Village Board of Education decided to
stop random drug testing of students on the basis of parking
privileges at their regular meeting Jan. 17.

"Random drug testing is protected for athletics and extracurriculars,
none address parking," said Gary Knepp, board member. "This is an
unresolved issue that puts us in jeopardy of some legal action."

Although Knepp requested the entire program be suspended until the
district can further review its effectiveness, other board members
and parents at the meeting expressed a desire to keep the program for
athletics and extracurriculars.

"I don't know that I want to suspend all the testing. I think what
would be more prudent is to suspend the portion that could be a
liability," said George Lucas, board member.

Counter to Knepp, board member Dave Yockey said he has heard from
parents, staff and students that this program is working and saw no
reason to change the methods they were using to drug test.

Yockey said suspending the program was "irresponsible and wrong" due
to the fact that he thought the board should have taken more time to
talk and research the topic before suspending any part of the policy.

"I have to say I'm very much opposed to any change in this policy," he said.

While Yockey voted against changing the program, the motion passed
with the approval of board members Knepp, Lucas and Debbie Marques.

During the suspension of this portion of the program, Interim
Superintendent Robert Farrell has been charged with looking into the
effectiveness of the entire program in the district.

Farrell will report back to the board at the regular meeting in March.