POTENTIAL PROBLEMS

The approaching discussion of possible drug and alcohol testing for
students in Southlake's Carroll school district is one that parents
cannot afford to simply watch from the sidelines. They should take
part.

The Drug and Alcohol Awareness Committee, a joint effort of the city
and the school district, has scheduled a round-table discussion of the
issue for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Southlake Town Hall.

Two district trustees, Steve Lakin and Becky Miltenberger, say that
they see a growing drug and alcohol problem and want to consider
fighting it with a testing program for high school students.

Parents must weigh the potential harm that drug and alcohol abuse can
do to their children against the invasion of privacy and other risks
that a testing program would entail. It is not an easy choice.

The first question to be answered is whether a drug or alcohol problem
exists among Carroll students. Frankly, the evidence cited so far is
not enough.

A March survey showed that, among Carroll's Class of 2004, 71 percent
say they have tried alcohol, 39 percent say they have tried marijuana
and 5 percent say they have tried cocaine. Although those results
provide reason to worry, more evidence is needed to justify a testing
program.

Take the case of public schools in Tecumseh, Okla., where a urinalysis
for drugs is required of middle and high school students involved in
extracurricular activities. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the testing
program last year.

In Tecumseh, the court's ruling said, teachers testified that they saw
students who appeared to be under the influence of drugs and heard
students speaking openly about using drugs. A drug dog found marijuana
near the school parking lot.

Police found drugs or drug paraphernalia in a car driven by an
extracurricular club member. Community residents perceived a "drug
problem" and called on the school board to take action.

Evidence like this at school shows a reason for concern and shores up
the case for testing students who otherwise would not be subjected to
a suspicionless general testing program, the Supreme Court said.

Is this sort of evidence of drug abuse present in Carroll schools? If
it is, it must be discussed openly, and a plan should be formulated to
deal with it.

Other questions must be answered: If the concern is with alcohol
abuse, what suitable testing program will detect it? Presumably,
procedures are in place to deal with a student who is obviously drunk
at school or at a school function, but it is difficult to test for
alcohol consumption after more than just a few hours.

If clear evidence of drug abuse by Carroll students exists and if
there is a desire to institute a testing program, how will the privacy
of those students who are subjected to the tests be guarded?

The Supreme Court has said that students in extracurricular activities
give up some of their privacy rights, but there are still significant
privacy issues regarding the availability of records of test results.

None of this can be taken lightly by Carroll parents. Decisions made
through this discussion will affect their children's safety and right
to privacy and will affect their schools dramatically.

Carroll residents should join the discussion.