Drug Testing Policy Passed by School Board

Valdez Star Continued: "Drug Testing Policy Passed by School Board
By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star
VALDEZ- School Board member Laurie Hull-Engles, who appeared telephonically, was the lone dissenter when the school board passed the controversial changes to the Valdez City School's Drug and Alcohol policy in a special meeting held Monday night at the District Office. 'This policy attacks children, it does not attack the problem of drugs,' she said early on in the 2 hour meeting held specifically to pass the policy changes.
Janise Johnson was the only member of the public in attendance at the meeting who came to speak against the proposed policy, which includes testing students' urine for drugs if school administrators suspect a student of drug use. If a student, parent or guardian refuses to allow a drug screen, the suspect student will automatically be disciplined as if they did test positive for drugs. First offenses for being caught with drugs or refusing a UA, as urine based drug tests are often called, will result in a five day out of school suspension. Students who undergo a UA and test positive but undergo a substance use assessment at any state-certified facility will only be suspended for three days if they provide proof they are following treatment recommendations.
Stating that she felt it was a civil rights violation to require a drug test to attend a public school, Ms Johnson stated, 'If they refuse they are considered guilty,' and added, 'This is not a minor detail.'
Ms. Johnson, who heard about the meeting by seeing a notice on the scanner, also chastised the board for not doing more to make the public aware that a special meeting was being held. 'It was not in the paper,' she said, and questioned if it was wise to hold a meeting that was not on the radio, as is the usual practice. The Valdez City Council was "