Drug testing moving toward implementation

The Wahkiakum School Board again took public testimony on its proposed drug testing policy at its regular meeting January 19 and will review procedures to implement the policy at its meeting in February.

The board heard results of a December survey in which the majority of students denied ever trying marijuana, and learned a community member had contacted the American Civil Liberties Union.

The district is considering offering drug testing to students suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at school, with the hope that would engage the students and their parents in getting help.

Several parents and community network members appeared before the school board to support the policy, saying they were subject to testing at work and believed it to be effective in reducing usage. Serene Snow questioned when parents would be notified, and was told procedures have not been developed.

Parents asked the board to consider testing teachers and staff, but union contract issues would likely prohibit that, staff said.

Wayne Flohr, whose children do not attend district schools, said the policy could create a “traumatic event” for a child, and he thought it should be a last resort.

Flohr said he had called the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the American Civil Liberties Union, and had a conference with the ACLU scheduled.

Garrett replied that the district is threatened with lawsuits two or three times a quarter, and does not make decisions out of fear. When the district implemented a random testing program for athletes in 1999, local parents and the ACLU sued, and ultimately prevailed before the state supreme court.

The proposed policy is different because it is not random, staff say. The district’s attorney will review the policy prior to implementation, Garrett said.

Board members said they would review alternative prevention programs if Flohr provided them, that they were seeking cost effective ways to impact use with the testing program.

Flohr questioned whether the board was over-reacting to a small group of students and what consequences the board has considered.

Tammy Peterson, of the Wahkiakum Community Network, said she had met with all students individually to gather information for a Healthy Youth survey.

In his report, high school Principal Dan Casler presented results of a survey of 116 high school students administered December 2 seeking current data as the board considered the new policy. Students responded to questions about use on a five-point scale: never, rare, occasional, weekly and daily use. Students said they rarely observed their friends drinking alcohol or using drugs. They said they rarely saw students bring marijuana onto school grounds. Students also denied seeing drug or alcohol abuse at home.

Casler said the results were consistent with what he sees in the building, adding, “But my intuition is that with sports coming to a close, kids could be thinking about using.”

Garrett received direction from the board to develop procedures for the drug testing policy to be reviewed at its meeting in February.

In other business, the district will donate five Elna and seven 1970-era Singer sewing machines to Johnson Park for home economics classes for Wahkiakum community members. The district hasn’t taught home economics since 2008-09, and is unlikely to do so again, Garrett said.

After meeting in executive session for personnel evaluation, the board voted to offer supplemental contracts to Kyle Hurley for HS Baseball Coach, Marc Niemeyer as HS Asst. Baseball Coach, Jeff Rooklidge HS Asst. Baseball Coach; Bill Olsen as HS Golf Coach, and Mike Riley, HS Track Coach.

The board also authorized a contract for one special education teacher as long as needed for one student.