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KINNELON - Drug and alcohol tests for students debated
(by Deborah Walsh - Staff Writer - November 10, 2008)
KINNELON - The school board, members of the public and students continued their dialogue on a possible random drug/alcohol testing policy.
At the onset of the discussion at the Oct. 30 school board meeting, James Opiekun, superintendent of schools, gave a presentation addressing the chief concerns over the policy that have been voiced at prior school board meetings. The main concerns Opiekun spoke to included whether there is a legitimate need for testing, the research to determine the efficacy of testing, the confidentiality of testing, the cost and whether the school district is overstepping its bounds with a testing program.
Opiekun said he thinks that almost everyone agrees that there are some kids using alcohol/drugs, that it is not a good idea for kids to use drugs and alcohol, and that parents could use some help in keeping their children from drugs and alcohol. He said people do not agree on a threshold drug/alcohol usage number that would render that drug/alcohol testing is warranted.
Opiekun relayed statistics from the Kinnelon Police that showed charges against Kinnelon students for allegedly driving while intoxicated were as follows: four in 2004-05, seven in 2005-06, 13 in 2006-07, four in 2007-08 and four in the first six weeks of the current school year.
He said the current studies on drug testing tend to support the viewpoint of whoever underwrites the study or are not a fit with the drug testing policy proposed by the school district. The cost is $56 per test with an estimated annual price tag of $3,400 to $6,800, he said.
The superintendent said student athletes already sign a pledge that they will not use drugs or alcohol, which is a policy that has not been met with opposition. Opiekun said two years ago a survey that addressed random drug/alcohol testing was made available to students. About 20 percent of the student body responded and the response was neutral, he said.
Though some feel the policy is non-punitive, Board Member Margaret Zybrick pointed out that school driving privileges are revoked from anyone testing positive. Although Zybrick had the utmost confidence that the administration would keep testing results confidential, she said as soon as students start parking in the neighborhood behind the school and off school grounds, many would deduce that they had tested positive.
“I don’t condone the kids drinking or using drugs, but my concern is how they will be viewed after testing positively. Will they still be selected captains of the team or will they get awards on senior appreciation night? I’m concerned about the unintended consequences,” said Zybrick.
Board Member William Hickey said he appreciated all the hard work that has gone into the policy, but he was unsure whether the policy had widespread community support. Though Opiekun said drug/alcohol use has an impact on the educational process, Hickey said the existing drug/alcohol suspicion policy should address that issue.
Board Member Patricia Moeser said the board has done everything it could to draft a comprehensive policy that spells out a confidential testing program that is non-punitive. Moeser said the proposed policy is nine pages in length, while other districts have one-page policies that are effective and have been accepted by the community.
Chase Dutton, a senior at Kinnelon High School (KHS), asked the board how it felt about a student being denied an opportunity to express an opinion on the random testing proposal in the school newspaper. Dutton said his article was not published in the school newspaper because the matter was not scheduled for a vote by the board.
Afterward, KHS Principal Dr. Wayne Merckling said there was nothing wrong with the content of Dutton’s editorial. Merckling said he was under the impression that the matter was not coming up for discussion and suggested that the editorial be held until the issue faced board discussion again.
Chase’s mother, Eileen Dutton, asked for specifics on the entire drug testing process. She wanted to know what happened after a student’s number was randomly generated. Opiekun said Priscilla Adams, the school’s student assistance counselor, would be the only person who would have the list that attached names to numbers. Once Vice Principal Matthew Scanlon got the random numbers from an Excel program, he would give them to Adams. Then the vice principal would attempt to determine the best time to test the student after looking at the student’s schedule. The administrator would escort the student to the nurse. The process should take a half-hour and parents are informed that the test took place, he said.
Dutton said she felt the process could be very anxiety provoking to students. Other students will notice the student being escorted to the nurse’s office, she said.
Opiekun said the confidential part is the results of the testing.
Ed Watson of Fayson Lakes Road, who was a police officer for 29 years, offered his support for the program. Hardcore drug addicts and alcoholics all started off with doing a little of this and that, he said.
“Some school systems don’t care. The kids know who’s partying, who’s drinking, who’s smoking weed and who’s doing worse,” said Watson. "I’ve brought many in drunk out of their minds. I think I’ve seen too much damage and lives ruined.”
Peggie Byrne of Gold Finch Run scoffed at the idea that the testing program would be confidential. She said her children could tell what kids were in the advanced, average and less experienced reading groups despite the groups only being named after animals and not ability levels. Byrne also objected to a limit being imposed on her speaking, being that another speaker had much more time.
Gary Moleta, the former chair of the borough’s municipal drug alliance, said many parents have told him that they favor the random drug testing policy, but are afraid to voice their opinion publicly. Some of the parents have children who have dabbled in drug use, he indicated.
“The kids probably know whose doing what. What’s important with this program is now mom and dad will know and they can take steps to stop the further escalation of the problem,” he said.
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