Pubdate: Tue, 15 Aug 2006
Source: Marion Star, The (OH)
Copyright: 2006 The Marion Star.
Contact: http://www.marionstar.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.marionstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2991
Author: Carole (Maxwell) Smart
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

GRANDPARENT HAS ISSUES WITH PLEASANT'S DRUG-TESTING

Dear Editor:

Tuesday, July 25, 2006, was mandatory drug testing day  for all 
Pleasant students that participate in  extracurricular activities or 
who will be driving to  school this school year. There is not a Right 
to  Privacy form to be signed, only a number scheme to  identify each 
student that was tested.

How does one expect students who are on drugs to get to  school? They 
will ride the school bus or will ride with  a student who had to be 
drug tested, since this program  does not include those students. Why 
aren't all  Pleasant students tested? When this question was 
asked  to administrators, the answer was, "The State of Ohio  law 
will not permit every student in junior high or  high school to be 
drug tested." Only those with  extracurricular activities and 
students that drive to  school can be tested to meet the approved 
number  scheme. Parents must pay $30 for the privilege of  having 
each student tested. Twenty-six dollars is paid  to the vendor for 
doing the tests and $4 goes to the  Pleasant School. Additional fees 
to be able to play sports or be in band, chorus, etc., is a part of 
being  able to participate in extra curricular activities as  well.

Additionally, students may be randomly selected to be  drug tested 
again during the school year. One student  that I am aware of was 
tested three times in the random  numbering scheme last year. She 
drove to school each  day, but all tests were negative. That seems 
like an  excessive amount of testing on one student who never  tested positive.

With all the necessary fees to be paid each year for  students 
including school supplies, workbooks, etc., it  is difficult for some 
parents to pay for yet another  fee - drug testing. Why couldn't this 
test be included  with the physical for students playing sports? The 
physician conducting the drug test would include the  Right to 
Privacy Act and the integrity and  confidentiality would be where it 
should be - in the  physician's patient records. The school could 
be  contacted if there was a problem. Vendors are not  doctors and 
records can be incorrect should a mix-up  occur, since so many drug 
tests were being conducted in  one day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This time frame is yet another problem as parents work  during that 
time of day. Therefore, as a grandparent,  we made two trips to 
Pleasant School; one to pick up  the necessary forms for the parents 
to sign then again  so the student could be drug tested the next day. 
Parents were not considered when this drug test  schedule was 
designed. Many parents work in Columbus or  other area cities, which 
made it difficult to get their  children to the mandatory testing.

Physicians should be doing the physicals, including the  drug test, 
if this is to be required by Pleasant  Schools to participate in 
sports activities. Students  in other activities, could be drug 
tested randomly,  instead of the mandatory testing.

Pleasant school administrators and teachers need to use  their time, 
efforts and our tax money educating  students, and parents should be 
responsible for their  children's health issues.

Carole (Maxwell) Smart

Marion
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman