SPARTA DEBATES DRUG-TESTING STUDENTS

SPARTA -- Starting in September, Sparta Middle School students may
be asked to participate in random testing for substance abuse.

Students in the high school might be required to be tested.

Sparta High School Principal Richard Lio made a presentation
describing a potential random drug testing program Wednesday night
to the district's Board of Education. If Lio's plan is adopted, a
possibility in the next two months, Sparta would be the first public
school in Sussex County to have a random drug testing program. Pope
John XXIII Regional High School is the only county school with such a program.

In his presentation, Lio called random drug testing "a proactive way
to approach the substance abuse issue" and one that does not presume
the guilt of a tested student. The proposed program would require
voluntary testing at the middle school level.

In the high school, any student who wishes to partake in
extra-curricular activities, sports or drive to school must be a
part of the testing pool. Students not involved in those activities
would still be able to volunteer and have their involvement
reflected on college applications.

Students can be tested in-school by supplying saliva and urine
samples to the school nurse. If a student is tested, parents will be
notified no matter the result.

Positive results can be sent to an outside laboratory for
confirmation testing. If a substance is confirmed, disciplinary
action would be imposed based on the school's own drug policy. In
the case of the high school, Lio suggested that a confirmed positive
test exclude the student from his or her chosen activities.

However, Lio said the goal of the program is not to catch students.

"By randomly testing, the program should serve to deter students
from drug use," Lio said. "By knowing they could be tested and lose
their privileges, it hopefully will make them think twice."

Because such testing methods are new and will require parental
consent as well as the students', Lio told the board to expect
critics and questions.

"This is going to generate a lot of discussion," Lio told the board.
"You need to be prepared for these things."

For tests and the required paperwork, Lio estimated the cost for the
district could run between $4,750 and $5,250, although any
additional nursing positions that may be needed were already
included in the year's budget.

Stacy Heller, a student assistance counselor and drug testing
project director at Hackettstown High School, said when her school
began its program three years ago, it met with some opposition from
parents concerned about their childrens' privacy.

"A handful of members in the community had a problem with it,"
Heller said. "They saw it as a civil rights violation. But it has

been determined by the Supreme Court to be a legal endeavor."

The Hackettstown Board of Education was "very good" and allowed the
school one year to educate parents and students by holding forums
and surveys. "By and large, most people were for it or just
apathetic," Heller said.

Since then, the school has maintained its testing program for three
years and has met with success, Heller said.

"There was no specific event that spurred us into the program,"
Heller said. "We were looking for another tool to reduce substance abuse."

The proposed Sparta program Lio presented was based on similar plans
adopted by other schools around the region.

Private schools like Pope John and De Paul High School in Wayne have
had voluntary random testing programs for more than six years. Both
schools have nearly all their students participate and allow
students to use their participation on college applications.

Besides Hackettstown, other public schools such as Kinnelon High
School and Pequannock High School have also implemented their own programs.

In the three years the Hackettstown program has been active,
students' annual surveys have shown a decline in drug and alcohol
use, Heller said.

According to a survey conducted by the federal Office of National
Drug Control Policy, almost a quarter of eighth graders, a third of
high school sophomores and half of high school seniors nationwide
have tried illegal drugs at some point in their lives.

Becky Carlson, director of prevention services for the Sussex County
Center for Prevention and Counseling, said that "all communities
have drug problems" and that while random drug testing is "not the
only answer," it is "definitely a piece of the puzzle."

"It's an individual school thing," Carlson said of such programs.
"(Schools) need to know what their problems are and they must have
community support.

"The school will have to talk to the community, educate parents and
students and provide details of the program so people can understand it."

Lio said the program, if approved, could potentially be in place by
the start of the new school year in September.

"Between now and then, we must gain the consensus of the students,
teachers and community," Lio said. "Right now, I have the support of
(all) nine board members and the administration."

Even though discussion of the program on Wednesday was informational
in nature, the suggestion immediately received strong, unanimous
support from the board.

Board member Linda Curcio said she feels the district has "an
immediate need to move on a drug policy." Board President Michael
Schiavoni said the program will be "put on a fast track" and will be
on the agenda for the board's May meeting. He expects a decision to
be made on the program before school ends in June.

"But there is a lot more research to be done and questions to be
answered before that," Schiavoni said.