NO PLANS FOR RANDOM DRUG TESTING OR BREATHALYZERS IN PRAIRIE ROSE

Some school divisions may be exploring the concept of having breathalyzer
and random drug testing in schools, but don't look for any such testing
proposals in the near future from the Prairie Rose School Division.

Manitoba Association of School Trustees risk manager Keith Thomas said one
unidentified school division in Winnipeg wants to establish the right to
perform breathalyzer tests on students suspected of drinking over their
lunch break. Thomas said he told the division not to implement any policy
until MAST's lawyers had carefully examined the proposal.

The move comes after Garden Valley School Division based in Winkler
announced plans for random urine sample drug testing of students
participating in sports at Garden Valley Collegiate. The proposal is on
hold while it's evaluated by MAST lawyers.

However, Prairie Rose School Division Supt. Fred Colvin said there are no
such plans in place or even discussions, to set up similar testing in
Prairie Rose.

"It has not been discussed at the admin or the board level," Colvin said.
"We wouldn't proceed down that path without the legal advice and full
discussion of why we want to go down that path.

"It's never come up at a board meeting, even as a suggestion."

The superintendent said he has some serious questions about taking such an
approach to test people for alcohol or drugs at random, such as the
violation of privacy.

"I have some concerns with that approach," he said. "It's a road I'm not
sure we want to go down."