HACKETTSTOWN HIGH DRUG PROGRAM GENERATES INTERNATIONAL INTEREST

Israel's IBA Network Films a Special. Students and Staff Well-Used to
Dealing With the Media.

HACKETTSTOWN - Hackettstown High School gained a statewide reputation
for student drug testing when it became one of New Jersey's first high
schools to start random testing.

The reputation became national when former Principal Chris Steffner
became a regular speaker at Office of National Drug Control Policy
conferences.

Hackettstown's reputation will soon be international.

A five-person news team from Israel's Channel 2 came to the high
school for more than two hours Tuesday to film a segment on the
school's drug testing. The segment will be part of a primetime series
on balancing privacy and security.

Some at the high school are becoming media mavens. Junior Kristin
Somers, who was drug tested in her sophomore year, was videotaped
Tuesday and was also interviewed for a prior New York Times story on
the subject.

Stacy Heller, the school's student assistance counselor who runs the
drug testing program, can't remember how many times she's been
interviewed.

Many schools and media organizations find her through the national
drug control office. The high school's drug testing policy is on the
office's Web site as a model policy; Heller is listed as a contact.

While Heller said she likes helping other schools start up testing
programs, the overall publicity can be overwhelming.

"I just really prefer to be able to run the program. I really believe
in the program," she said after finishing her interview with Channel
2.

Principal Brian Purzak was a bit frustrated by how long the filming
took Tuesday, but said it brings positive attention to the school.

"It's good publicity," Purzak said. "We believe that the program is
good for our kids and our parents."

Surveys taken before and after the testing started in September 2004
show fewer students are using drugs since the testing. As of Tuesday,
only two students had tested positive in the random testing.

Students who participate in extracurricular activities or park their
cars on campus are in the testing pool, which comes out to about 70
percent of the school's 1,000 students. About six are tested a week.

Senior Chelsea Bratsis volunteered to take a drug test for Tuesday's
filming. Her results turned out negative and she recommended the
program to the Israeli audience.

"It's working for our students," she said during her
interview.

School board member Mike Sedita has doubts whether the testing is
actually bringing drug use down at the school. A recent survey in New
York City schools showed marijuana use was down there, though the
district does not drug test, he said.

Sedita is not impressed with Hackettstown's strong reputation for drug
testing.

"I wish we were receiving attention for a different reason," he said.