Year two of random drug testing starts
AHS tests 47 students, receives five positive results
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer

ALLENTOWN — Four high school students failed random drug tests since the start of school Sept. 9.

Allentown High School Vice Principal Connie Embley said 946 students have enrolled in the random drug-testing program, which is required for students who want to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities, who have parking permits, and who have violated the district substance abuse policy.

Of those enrolled in the program, the district has randomly tested 47 students and received five positive results. One freshman and three seniors tested positive, with one of the seniors a repeat offender, according to Embley.

"We have only tested four times so far," Embley said.

Last year, when the district implemented the program, 857 students enrolled. The district tested a total of 232 students (27 percent) of the eligible students enrolled and received seven positive test results. One sophomore tested positive twice, two juniors tested positive once, and one senior tested positive three times for a total of four students that tested positive.

Embley said that once a student tests positive, his/her name is placed back into the pool for the next random test date. She said the senior who tested positive twice this school year tested positive once last year. For a first offense, a student must go to a medical doctor for a physical examination and a note that states he/she can safely return to school. The student must attend five sessions with Student Assistance Counselor Rick Rivera, Embley said.

For a second offense, a student falls subject to all stipulations of a first offense, but must attend 10 sessions with Rivera and loses athletic, extracurricular and parking privileges for 60 days. When a student tests positive a second time, the results are shared with the vice principals of the high school, who then meet with the student and his/her parent or guardian, Embley said.

For a third offense, a student falls subject to all stipulations of a second offense, but loses athletic, extracurricular and parking privileges for 365 days, Embley said.

"There are no academic consequences," she said.

When asked if the students testing positive are getting help, Allentown High School Vice Principal Brian Myslinski said, "We cannot mandate treatment because we would have to pay for it. Rick Rivera encourages the student strongly and we encourage the parents strongly."

Regarding the students who have tested positive for drugs more than once, Embley said, "The parents are probably not doing what needs to be done."

Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick said he meets with the parents of repeat offenders and has seen most of them struggling to find ways to help their children.

"These parents utilize over time various resources in and out of the school," he said. "These parents are seeking help from the school — suggestions and referrals. I do believe the school has gone out of its way to offer assistance."

He continued, "Anyone who ever says what's the problem with a little marijuana should come and sit with these parents and see what the problem is."

Embley said students are seeing the problems that come as a result of testing positive.

"This year, one student was removed from athletics," she said. "The [positive test results] were not shared by us, but word spread immediately throughout the building. Kids are seeing the consequences — not playing and not parking."

Noting that some of the student body, especially seniors, protested the random drug testing last year, Embley said, "Now that they are gone, more students have enrolled."

Allentown High School senior Tyler Freeman, who represents the student body on the Board of Education, reported that the random testing has not stopped all student drug use.

"They use in the summer," he said. "They stop to play sports, but when that last school bell rings they light up again. That's just what I hear."

Myslinski said that the random testing helps keep such students clean for 10 months, 84 percent, of the year.

Embley said the district could apply for grants to start testing in August when students have to register for the athletic program.

She said she has to call the parents of students selected for the random testing and has never had a complaint about the program. She said most parents thank her, but some have questioned, "Why is my kid being tested again?"

"The testing is very random," Embley said. "We test whose names we get."

Fitzpatrick said the goal of the program is to help kids make good decisions, not to get them in trouble.

"We care deeply about our kids and we're really trying to help them make the best decisions they can and to have the opportunities that we have had over our years of experience."

Board member Elizabeth Trent, who suggested the district look into hiring a parttime female student assistance counselor to help female students, said, "We want kids to be safe and healthy."

Myslinski said, "The longer we do [random drug testing], it will become culture at our school. It will be the norm."