PIERCETON - If the opinions of parents at Monday's school board meeting are any indication, Whitko School Corp. won't rush to institute random drug testing.

More than 50 parents and other patrons attended Monday's meeting, and many of them spoke against their children being tested for drugs.

Most echoed the sentiments of Mark Vandewalle, who said mandatory drug testing is a severe violation of privacy.

"I will never give permission for my children to be drug tested," he said, noting school officials wouldn't be able to "administer it in a judicious manner."

Others protested the cost of such a program, wanted to know how students would be chosen to be tested, and insisted that the schools' no-smoking policies be enforced.

Parent Valerie Metzger asked the board if teachers and administrators also would be tested, "so we would have a totally drug-free school."

Another parent said the Bill of Rights guarantees everyone a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but "a drug test is a presumption of guilt until you're found innocent."

Parent Rob Mishler said, "I don't want to teach children of any age to submit to giving up their personal freedoms."

The public forum for opinions on drug testing came at the end of the school board meeting. School board president Terri Collier said the public input was a first step in the process and the board had made no decisions yet.

When board members were asked what made them feel the need to consider such a policy, Collier said it was a matter of prevention.

"It's easier to do it before you have a serious problem," she said.

Other concerns shared by parents included what would happen to kids who tested positive for drugs, what kind of education would be involved, whether or not parents would be notified in advance and how accurate the tests would be.

Recent problems with middle school students being caught "huffing" on school property also came into the discussion as parents asked the board why penalties were not consistently enforced.

"I'd like to know what kind of message we're sending our kids if you expel a kid for cigarettes and let those with inhalants stay in school," said Marlene Baker. "You have a set of rules; why aren't you playing by your rules? It's not fair."

Robert Watkins was even more blunt: "Show me, any of you, a certificate from the state of Indiana saying you're law enforcement. ... You're here to be teachers. Do so."

Collier said Whitko's only drug-testing policy now covers bus drivers, and that is only because it is required by the state. When asked specifically about teachers, she said, "There is no drug-testing policy for teachers."

Collier also said there will be more public meetings on drug testing of students, and said the school board was not yet in a position to make any decision.

In other business, the Classroom Teachers Association has set April 28 at 7 p.m. in the Middle School lecture room as the night to meet the school board candidates. Candidates for District 1 are Deb Collier and Steve Fiedeke, and for District 3 is Larry Long. [[In-content Ad]]