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Petoskey school discusses drug testing
by Lisa Hayes, Petoskey News Review, August 2002
The Petoskey School Board met Thursday for a work session, where board
members, school administrators and parents discussed drug testing at
school.
The board prefaced the meeting by noting they had no intention of
making a decision on the issue Thursday, but had gathered to learn
about statistics throughout the country and how other school systems
had handled drug testing.
"We want to know what the facts are, and where we can go from there,"
said Tom Rellinger, board president.
Dave Snyder, Petoskey High School principal, offered information from
a 1999-2000 survey of Petoskey High School students, which signified
that drug and alcohol abuse at the school matched national levels.
"The government characterized the national drug use as 'epidemic,'"
Rellinger said. "We're matching national averages. Doesn't that mean
we have an epidemic?"
"It is surprising to see that," Snyder said, "since we often believe
our own kids do better than that."
The board also reviewed two U.S. Supreme Court cases involving drug
testing at school. The first, from a city in Oregon, ruled that the
school's testing of athletes was legal, since the school had
"compelling evidence" of alcohol and drug abuse which outweighed
students' Fourth Amendment rights prohibiting wrongful search and
seizure.
The second, from a city in Oklahoma, concerned a school district that
randomly tested all students involved in any extra-curricular
activities, including show choir and the debate team.
"The policy was found legal by the court, because they found
legitimate cause for concern for the students," said Dr. John Jeffrey,
district superintendent. "But the girl (who sued the school district)
won on appeal."
The board also studied the only Michigan school district to employ a
drug testing policy, in Grand Blanc.
"They are happy with the policy," Jeffrey said. "But they are being
sued by the Michigan Civil Liberties Union."
While the Grand Blanc district focused on athletics, some board
members said it was unfair to test only one segment of the school's
population.
"I don't see how you could single any group out, unless you could
prove athletics was the problem," said board secretary Bob Crumb.
"I really feel we need better definitions of extra-curricular and
curricular activities, before we start singling any of them out,"
Rellinger said.
Those definitions were a hot topic for board members, as the
consequences of using drugs or alcohol all centered on suspending or
banning students from extra-curricular activities.
"So, if we test all students, what can we take away from the average
student not involved in extra-curricular activities?" said board
member Keith Szajnecki.
"About 90 percent of kids participate in extra-curricular activities,"
said board member Jack Waldvogel. "At some point in time we're going
to catch nine out of 10 kids."
Waldvogel said that random drug testing could significantly cut down
the alarming use of drug activity at weekend parties, the No. 1 place
kids use drugs and alcohol.
"If a kid thinks his random number might be up on Monday and he's at a
party Saturday night and his friends offer him a hit, he may think
twice," he said. "In that thinking twice, maybe we've saved that kid
from trying it at all."
Waldvogel noted the price of drug testing, about $10,000, that widened
the eyes of some board members.
"You know, $10,000 might scare somebody, but we have a $23 million
budget," he said. "That $10,000 is a spit in the ocean for what it
could do."
Some board members, however, weren't convinced.
"The big question for me, is what are the exact numbers of kids
involved in extra-curricular activities?" said Tina DeMoore, board
treasurer. "This (Petoskey) survey just shows all kids. From what I've
read, statistics really show a negative correlation between drug use
and extra-curricular involvement.
"And, how does random drug testing for just those kids discourage
other kids from using?"
Crumb suggested that all kids should be included in the random trials.
"I'm going to say that what we do is negotiate with Northern Michigan
Hospital a discount, and request that every parent do it twice a
year," he said. "If you don't do it, it's your problem. But we're
going to be the leaders.
"We'll get you a great deal, we'll get you a great program at Harbor
Hall, and we'll get you all the information you need. You test them.
We don't have to solve all the community's problems, but we can be
leaders in community problems when they affect our kids."
Many parents attended Thursday's meeting, and weighed in on the issue.
"I went to a meeting like this two years ago, and sank lower and lower
into my chair when I heard what kids were doing to hide the drugs,"
said Kay Keiser, who has two children in the district. "I couldn't get
home fast enough to confront my kids. If drug testing can save one
life, especially if it's your child, it's worth it. That meeting I
went to saved two."
Public comments echoed one another, as parents supported the board's
discussion on drug and alcohol testing.
"My wife Cindy and I have four kids," said parent Andy Hayes. "We need
help. We're here to tell you don't be afraid. Provide leadership, go
at it, because we need help. I think you'll find a lot of parents will
support that.
"Have you ever seen the movie 'Braveheart'? We want you guys to be Mel
Gibson. The community will rally for this, but we need somebody to
rally around."
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