By Maxim Almenas
Staff Writer | Srpt. 18 2008

At a recent school board meeting, a parent expressed concerns that the district’s drug testing policies for students were unfair and that athlete’s get preferential treatment.

School policies state that athletes are subject to random drug testing during the school year. If they test positive for steroids or other illegal drugs, there is no punitive action and they are not suspended. Students who do not participate in sports can be sent for drug testing if a school employee suspects them of erratic behavior. If the test is positive for drugs they can be suspended.

Superintendent Raymond Bandlow said athletes are under tougher scrutiny.

"Only athletes are subject to random drug testing," said Bandlow. "They give up a portion of their rights. And the state’s random drug testing law requires that no punitive action should be taken. Participating in sports is a privilege"

Bandlow said the law prohibits random drug testing for students who do not participate in athletics. If athletes act erratic and test positive for drug use, they are subject to the same rules as the general student population.

"It’s what triggers the test that determines the outcome," Bandlow said. "There’s a difference between cause of suspension and erratic behavior."

During the meeting, some board members said the district did not have a serious problem with drugs. And reports in the past from the state stating "one in five students try drugs" do not apply to the district. But members of the public disagreed.

A state report titled, "The Commissioner’s Report to the Legislature on the Incidence of Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in the Public Schools" is expected to be released next week by the New Jersey Department of Education. It provides detailed information on a wide range of incidents including drugs at New Jersey’s approximately 2,400 public schools.

It also includes a complete description of the department’s numerous initiatives and ongoing programmatic responses to the problem of violence, vandalism and substance abuse in schools.

In the meantime, Bandlow feels comfortable with the current policies.

"Students have privacy rights, which can only be infringed upon under certain conditions permitted by law," said Bandlow. "If a student acts erratic, there are punitive consequences. But it doesn’t mean there’s no counseling afterwards. We want kids to learn."

E-mail: almenasm@northjersey.com