'We want to do it right'
CCSD board working on drug testing policy

Cameron County School Board members continue to work on a student drug-testing plan. A variety of opinions were expressed at a meeting held Thursday night to work on the district's policy and air public input. Board President Robert Lininger said directors are moving slowly and have no deadline to put the plan in place.

"We want to do it right," Lininger said. "This is an important issue. We want to end up with a policy that we can live with and one that has support from the public."

One draft of the plan before the board would subject only "activity students" - those in sports, band and other extracurricular programs -- to urine tests to detect the presence of illegal drugs.

Students from grades seven through 12 would be selected through a random process. Urine would be checked to detect marijuana, amphetamines, opiates, steroids and other drugs.

Another version under consideration would permit teachers, administrators and even parents to designate specific students to testing under certain conditions, based on "reasonable suspicion."

Board members appear to be united in their belief that a testing policy must be implemented.

Two Emporium Borough Council members were among those addressing them at Thursday's meeting. Randy Frey said he believes that the policy should be a part of a more comprehensive approach by the district.

"I think the kids should be pounded with the message about drugs every day in every class," Frey said. He added that he has reservations about a plan that targets only activity students.

Councilman Max Narby, a former teacher, said fighting student drug abuse needs to be a community-wide mission involving parents, clergy and civic leaders.

Emporium Borough Police Chief Rufus Jones said testing students for drugs is at least a start to a more comprehensive approach.

"We need to aggressively get more in tune with the kids," Jones pointed out.

He suggested the district take advantage of resources available through the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program used in hundreds of communities in the nation.

Under the draft policy, if a student tested positive, he or she would face a 14-day suspension from extracurricular activities and be referred for review and possibly counseling.

In the event of a second positive test, the student would be suspended from the activity for eight weeks and be referred for treatment.

The purpose is not to punish students for their actions, but rather to help them, Lininger emphasized.

Similar policies are in effect at Coudersport, Ridgway and other school districts in the region.

Cameron County School Board has been considering such a plan for more than three years. A string of drug arrests and public disclosures about the Emporium area's drug climate last year focused renewed attention on the role that the school district could play.

Another public meeting to work on the plan will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12.