Expanded Drug Testing Proposed For Students
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Proposals reviewed Thursday by Warsaw Community Schools could lead to further drug testing of students and employment of a police officer at the high school.
The ideas were reviewed during a public meeting at the high school Thursday night. No decisions were made.
Much of the discussion involved expansion of student drug testing beyond athletes to include students driving to school and those in vocational classes.
Similar programs at other schools have been adopted and upheld in court on the grounds of personal safety, officials said.
Random drug testing currently involves about 500 student athletes. With the addition of drivers and vocational students, the total number would be close to 1,000 students - nearly half of the high school student body.
Under the proposal, student drivers testing positive would lose driving privileges for nine weeks on the first offense. A second offense would result in a one-year suspension of driving rights.
Vocational students who fail a drug test would be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the type of work they're involved in. A second offense would result in removal from the program for one year.
Officials also want to be able to seek drug tests from students suspected of being intoxicated at school. Those tests would only be sought when the school already has enough evidence to suspend the student.
"We're not going to go at this haphazardly and start accusing people," said Jennifer Brumfield, assistant principal.
Officials say they want to build upon the success of the three-year old random drug testing program for athletes.
Two years ago, the tests were toughened to catch even small levels of drugs through urine tests after students bragged they were not getting caught.
A year ago, eight students tested positive under the tougher test. But this year, of the 358 tests conducted, nobody tested positive.
Athletic director Dave Fulkerson said he believes the testing has become an effective way for students to avoid drugs.
"It helps our students have another reason to say no," Fulkerson said.
Under the proposal, testing of athletes would be altered to allow them to remain on the team, but prohibited from participating. The current policy removes the student from the team and officials believe that type of action can have further negative effects.
Keeping them on the team would allow coaches to work with them and keep their goals in sight, Brumfield said.
Current drug testing costs about $5,000, and expansion would bring the cost to about $11,600.
As a way to offset some of the costs, annual driving permit fees would increase from $2 to $10.
Principal Paul Crousore said he would like to see testing expanded even beyond the current proposal.
That prompted Paul Stephens, vice president of the student body, to suggest student council would voluntarily participate in drug testing.
Stephens said council was willing to "lead by example."
The offer caught officials off guard and led to some light applause.
The testing proposal was met with mild concern from two parents, one of whom questioned whether students might fear being singled out. Another suggested if certain segments of the enrollment are targeted, all students should be targeted.
On another proposal, superintendent Dr. Lee Harman said a plan to hire an officer to work at the high school will take careful consideration and probably wouldn't be in place by next fall if approved.
Harman said he's aware of parental resistance toward hiring an officer, but recent school shootings across the nation might sway that opinion, Harman said.
"I think some of that resistance is being modified," Harman said.
The "school resource officer" would investigate criminal activity at the school and be able to respond to emergencies.
But the officer would also be available to make presentations and work with teachers and counselors, said LeeAnn Richardson, a DARE officer who outlined the proposal.
"We're not just looking for somebody to walk around with a gun on their hip. That's not what this is about," Harman said.
School board member Craig Allebach said the city might be interested in providing an officer if grant money could be used to cover the estimated $50,000 cost.
The school is also upgrading security measures.
The high school parking lot will soon have video cameras to monitor activities. A keyless entry system is being tested and two schools are being equipped with external delivery buzzers.
Making schools secure is difficult because they were not designed with that in mind, said Randy Thorpe, business manager.
"There is no possible way we can make Warsaw Community Schools completely secure," he said.
The meeting was held in a large lecture room to accommodate what officials hoped would be a strong showing of public interest. However, only a handful of parents attended and there were more members of the media than parents.
"We were hoping for more people," Harman said.
Opportunities for further debate will be available at future meetings, he said. [[In-content Ad]]
Proposals reviewed Thursday by Warsaw Community Schools could lead to further drug testing of students and employment of a police officer at the high school.
The ideas were reviewed during a public meeting at the high school Thursday night. No decisions were made.
Much of the discussion involved expansion of student drug testing beyond athletes to include students driving to school and those in vocational classes.
Similar programs at other schools have been adopted and upheld in court on the grounds of personal safety, officials said.
Random drug testing currently involves about 500 student athletes. With the addition of drivers and vocational students, the total number would be close to 1,000 students - nearly half of the high school student body.
Under the proposal, student drivers testing positive would lose driving privileges for nine weeks on the first offense. A second offense would result in a one-year suspension of driving rights.
Vocational students who fail a drug test would be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the type of work they're involved in. A second offense would result in removal from the program for one year.
Officials also want to be able to seek drug tests from students suspected of being intoxicated at school. Those tests would only be sought when the school already has enough evidence to suspend the student.
"We're not going to go at this haphazardly and start accusing people," said Jennifer Brumfield, assistant principal.
Officials say they want to build upon the success of the three-year old random drug testing program for athletes.
Two years ago, the tests were toughened to catch even small levels of drugs through urine tests after students bragged they were not getting caught.
A year ago, eight students tested positive under the tougher test. But this year, of the 358 tests conducted, nobody tested positive.
Athletic director Dave Fulkerson said he believes the testing has become an effective way for students to avoid drugs.
"It helps our students have another reason to say no," Fulkerson said.
Under the proposal, testing of athletes would be altered to allow them to remain on the team, but prohibited from participating. The current policy removes the student from the team and officials believe that type of action can have further negative effects.
Keeping them on the team would allow coaches to work with them and keep their goals in sight, Brumfield said.
Current drug testing costs about $5,000, and expansion would bring the cost to about $11,600.
As a way to offset some of the costs, annual driving permit fees would increase from $2 to $10.
Principal Paul Crousore said he would like to see testing expanded even beyond the current proposal.
That prompted Paul Stephens, vice president of the student body, to suggest student council would voluntarily participate in drug testing.
Stephens said council was willing to "lead by example."
The offer caught officials off guard and led to some light applause.
The testing proposal was met with mild concern from two parents, one of whom questioned whether students might fear being singled out. Another suggested if certain segments of the enrollment are targeted, all students should be targeted.
On another proposal, superintendent Dr. Lee Harman said a plan to hire an officer to work at the high school will take careful consideration and probably wouldn't be in place by next fall if approved.
Harman said he's aware of parental resistance toward hiring an officer, but recent school shootings across the nation might sway that opinion, Harman said.
"I think some of that resistance is being modified," Harman said.
The "school resource officer" would investigate criminal activity at the school and be able to respond to emergencies.
But the officer would also be available to make presentations and work with teachers and counselors, said LeeAnn Richardson, a DARE officer who outlined the proposal.
"We're not just looking for somebody to walk around with a gun on their hip. That's not what this is about," Harman said.
School board member Craig Allebach said the city might be interested in providing an officer if grant money could be used to cover the estimated $50,000 cost.
The school is also upgrading security measures.
The high school parking lot will soon have video cameras to monitor activities. A keyless entry system is being tested and two schools are being equipped with external delivery buzzers.
Making schools secure is difficult because they were not designed with that in mind, said Randy Thorpe, business manager.
"There is no possible way we can make Warsaw Community Schools completely secure," he said.
The meeting was held in a large lecture room to accommodate what officials hoped would be a strong showing of public interest. However, only a handful of parents attended and there were more members of the media than parents.
"We were hoping for more people," Harman said.
Opportunities for further debate will be available at future meetings, he said. [[In-content Ad]]