Keep Pissing Away Cash!

With federal funding set to expire in September 2007, North Hunterdon/Voorhees Regional School District officials are planning a full review of a random drug and alcohol testing program.

In one year, the district spent between $15,000 and $16,000 on tests for the program, which is reimbursed by the federal grant, according to Anita Lamison, the district human resources coordinator.

Besides funding, Peabody expects the task force will scrutinize the district's reasonable suspicion policy in light of June's North Hunterdon High School prom debacle. Thirteen students were booted from the prom because administrators believed they had been drinking alcohol and were sent for blood tests, which is according to the policy.

As they did during board meetings after the prom, he expects they will suggest the district buy breath tests and oral swab kits so students can be tested on site. "Personally, I don't think it's a bad idea," board of education member Garry Peabody said of the breath test.

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Now $15,000 is a large chunk of cash for most high schools. I know it could have been put to good use at mine. So is drug testing really the best way the district can spend $15,000 to not even prevent, but just catch, students that might be using drugs? Why not put $15,000 into extra-curricular after school activities? Students have a better chance of using drugs right after school is over because many times parents are still at work and not home with students that are potentially at risk. Put that $15,000 into improving or creating new after school clubs/organizations or athletics and maybe these at risk students will be more involved in a "drug-free" atmosphere for a good portion of the day. Use the money to create a Drug Resource Center where student are given non-biased, fact based information about drugs, not ONDCP propaganda.

Now the students that are already involved in these extra-curricular activities are at risk of being kicked out. Drug testing is not always accurate and many times turns up false positives were innocent students are punished for an error in the test. And the students that really have used an illegal drug that shows up on the test, where are they going to go after school now? If its not football or band practice, it might be drug use.

And of course Mr. Peabody thinks the breath test is a good idea. He is not a student and regardless if he shows up to the prom after a few cocktails, he won't be tested.

I personally wish there was a breath test at my high school prom. I didn't drink before arriving to the dance, but that wouldn't have stopped me from dropping the breathalyzer on the floor and stomping it to pieces with my shiny, rented, tuxedo shoes...

Making Sense of Student Drug Testing