Volunteer Random Drug Testing Proposed For Bernards School District, Decision Pending

After a two-year hiatus, the random drug testing debate is back in Bernards, with a proposal for a volunteer-based testing program at Monday's Board of Education meeting.

The Board heard The Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Project Report, a partnership between Rutgers University professionals and Bernards volunteers dedicated to examining the district's substance abuse policies and goals. The project included a number of recommendations to the school district, including implementing an "opt-in" volunteer random drug testing program.

The drug prevention project followed the release of the 2008-09 American Drug and Alcohol Survey for Bernards Township, which among other findings, listed higher than national average abuse of alcohol (48 percent of Ridge seniors reported being drunk in the last month vs. 28 percent national average) and marijuana use (28 percent Ridge seniors used in last month vs. 19 percent national average).

In 2008, the Board of Education heard a proposal for a mandatory testing program for all students involved in sports or extracurricular activities. The issue proved contentious and the Board voted to a stalemate, leading to no policy change.

The proposal presented on Monday would be strictly volunteer-based, with parents of students in extracurricular activities given the option of signing their children up for the program.

"The 'opt-in' was included because it gives more choice at this point for parents," said Cedar Hill Assistant Principal Julianne Kotcho, also a member of the core team for the Safe and Drug Free Schools project.

Board member Bill Koch questioned the choice to include an "opt-in" policy rather than "opt-out," where parents would have to sign a waiver for their kids to be excluded from the program, rather than sign them up for it – the idea being that an opt-out program would draw a larger pool of participants.

Board member Michael Byrne, a vocal supporter of mandatory drug testing, said, "You did come up with a program that can grow, and I think that's better than nothing."

Michael Kelly of Dryden Road, a resident who spoke against random drug testing, expressed his concern that the volunteer program would lead to a mandatory program. "When I came tonight and I was at first heartened, the program presented was not coercive, until of course I hear some people start to talk about it," he said. "Three years from now we will be standing here with a proposal to go to mandatory system whether its successful or a failure."

Ridge High School Student Assistance Coordinator Chad Gillikin, one of three presenters for the Safe and Drug Free Schools project, said that the volunteer program could be expanded if participation rose and the community wanted to make the change.

"Warren Hills is a good example, after a few years there were enough people in the program that the community felt comfortable enough to expand to mandatory random drug testing," Gillikin said.

No action was taken at the meeting, and the Board of Education will continue to discuss the possibility of implementing the proposed program or a similar version later this year.