District considers breathalyzer

The Whitefish school board June 14

renewed the district’s drug testing policy, but tabled a change

that would allow for breathalyzer tests to be administered on

students at school activities.

The district will continue its

opt-in/opt-out program for random drug testing of students

participating in extracurricular activities. It will also continue

its reasonable suspicion policy that allows for the testing of any

student believed to be under the influence.

Superintendent Jerry House said the

policy is about educating students.

“That’s why we got into this whole ball

game,” he said. “We’re taking a stand and it’s the right thing to

do.”

Trustee Shannon Hanson was the sole

vote against renewal. He voiced his opposition to the policy, in

general. He said he didn’t want the school to be an “authoritarian

base.”

“I get we have to take a stand as a

community,” Hanson said. “I don’t want to have a reputation as a

school with a breathalyzer.”

Several trustees voiced their support

for the drug testing.

“Our community has a reputation for

being the drug and alcohol center of the state,” trustee Charlie

Abell said. “This is the school showing we are concerned about

those issues from a community standpoint.”

House reported that of the roughly 500

students who participated in school activities, about 41 percent

chose to opt-in this past school year. Twenty-five students were

tested during the year and all tested negative for drugs and

alcohol.

“We’re providing a service that’s an

opt-in,” trustee David Fern said. “If a significant number of

parents and children want to participate, it’s worth it.”

The district has two drug policies.

Under the first, parents and students who participate in

extracurricular activities have the option to sign a voluntary

contract, which allows the district to perform random drug testing

during the school year. The second policy allows the district to

test any student that is considered to have reasonable suspicion of

being under the influence.

The board plans to continue discussing

adding the use of a breathalyzer under its reasonable suspicion

policy. If approved, the breathalyzer would be used at school

functions such as athletic events and dances. The breathalyzer

would not be used on every student, but would be administered if a

student were believed to be using alcohol. Police and parents will

be contacted if the student tests positive.

A few trustees wanted to know the cost

of the breathalyzer before approving its purchase.

In a separate vote, the board approved

extending, for two years, an oversight committee that monitors the

drug-testing program. Trustees Hanson and Ruth Harrison voted

against the extension.

House recommended the extension stating

that the committee has insufficient data to determine if the

testing program is effective.

“We’d like to try and see if it goes

over 50 percent participation,” House said of the opt-in/opt-out

program.

The board asked if there was any trend

found in whether or not a student might participate.

House said various teams have a higher

rate of testing while others have a low rate. The overall attitude

towards testing of the team members and the coaching staff likely

determines the rate of participation.

“If a coach advocates really strong one

way or another kids are going to reflect that coach,” he said.

Hanson noted that while the committee

needs more data to determine if the program is effective he pointed

out that there’s no data to compare to before the program

began.

“Do we have any way to see if this is

working?” he asked.

House admitted that determining if the

program is effective is difficult at this point because it is

voluntary. More study is needed, he noted.

“We’re trying to get more kids

participating,” he said. “We have a tool to change their lifestyle.

We’re trying to find a trend for Whitefish High School.”

The committee reported that the

reasonable suspicion policy seems to be an effective policy. The

staff is more willing to identify and refer students that may be

under the influence. The referrals seem to have curtailed some of

the abuse witnessed in the past, the committee noted.

During the last three school years,

there have been 50 incidents in which a student has been referred

for further evaluation. About a dozen of those students were

actually tested for use. After being referred many of the students

admitted to being under the influence.

Students with a positive test are

suspended for three days for the first offense. A second offense

results in possible expulsion of not more than 45 days and a third

offense results in automatic expulsion from the district.