WEST MILFORD — Parents let the school board know Tuesday night what they think of the district's proposed voluntary random alcohol and drug testing policy. The district is proposing that all high school students who participate in extracurricular activities or who have a parking permit be tested randomly for drugs and alcohol. Parents who spoke at the public hearing were not in favor of the policy.
Paul Devaw said that although he understands the spirit and goals behind the policy and the dangers of drug abuse, he and his wife “have a very strong objection to how this policy would violate the rights of our children.”
“We don’t feel that this is in keeping with the spirit that this country is built on, that a person is innocent until proven guilty, that a person does not have to be subject to search without any proper evidence,” said Devaw.
He said the majority of students are not doing drugs but will be treated like criminals.
“But for the majority of these students who have done nothing, who are innocent, who are not using drugs - they have to go through this experience and be treated like a criminal.”
Devaw asked if there was a random drug testing policy in the teachers' contract.
“Why the double standard? If it’s not in the teacher’s contract, why should it be in our students’?” he said.
Mary Claire Lewis referred to statistics from drugfree.org which she said state there is no reduction in drug use in schools that have instituted random drug testing policies. She said that clubs and sports are more than extracurricular activities, since they have become necessary for college admission. She recommended the board have more frequent, powerful presentations like “Jesse’s Journey” to deter drug use, rather than violate a student’s rights for freedom from government intrusion.
Kate Romeo is a former employee at West Milford High School.
“Tonight I’m here to ask you please vote no on the drug policy - coming from drug and alcohol counselor," said Romeo. "It can ruin the lives of our students and their future.”
She said the district should instead look to prevention and intervention, more parent training programs, training staff above what the state requires, hiring more counselors for support, and also look at elementary schools which she said is where these things need to be taught, and is where the students need to be educated.
"Less than 1 percent of our high school students are addicted," she said. "It’s our job to educate them, not scare them. You’re not teaching them, you’re catching them. Some are going to experiment - help them; hire the right people.”
Romeo said she met with lawyers looking to see if drug testing and is legal.
"It is. It’s just not best for our kids.”
Board members discuss it
Trustee Jim Foody questioned why only kids who are involved in extracurricular activities and seniors with parking permits are targeted for the program.
McLaughlin said laws do not permit mandatory testing for all students in the public school setting, but do allow for such a program to be attached to privileges such as activities and parking. McLaughlin said the program is not meant to catch kids doing something bad, but to provide them with whatever support they need in order to avoid substance abuse. In a presentation held last year with former high school students who were struggling with drug addiction, McLaughlin said many of them were seemingly healthy, involved students in high school and not what you’d typically expect to hear in regards to a person struggling with addiction and the many issues it comes with.
Trustee Matt Conlon, a member of the Policy Committee, said the proposed policy was developed by a professional policy management company and also based on actual programs in place at other schools. He said that questions regarding rights for privacy issues have been addressed and the policy is supported in courts.
Foody said he supports the goal of the policy, but doesn’t agree with consequences for students selected randomly who do not agree to testing. Trustee Wayne Gottlieb said he found this proposal to be troubling and reminiscent of the “Scared Straight” programs of the 1970s and 80s whose effectiveness was questionable, he added. He sees it as a gross invasion of privacy and inconsistent with the mission of the schools, which is to educate. He said the policy is un-American and he will not support it.
The vote to approve the first reading of both the Policy and the Regulation passed 7-2, with Foody and Gottlieb voting against them.
A second reading and board vote on implementing the policy will be held at the next school board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24. If the policy is approved, it will begin Nov. 4, 2013 for all students in grades 9-12 that participate in extracurricular activities or apply for a parking permit
What are your thoughts? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and tell us.