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Drug Testing in Mobile County Public Schools?

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By Kesshia Peyton Anchor/Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Drug Testing in Mobile County Public Schools?

Published: Thu, April 24, 2008 - 6:23 pm
Last Updated: Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 6:26 pm

Kesshia Peyton

The Mobile County Public School system is "thinking" about drug testing its high school students.
A committee of school and community leaders met Thursday morning to discuss whether it would be a good idea and how it'll be done.
Superintendent Dr. Roy Nichols says Baldwin County Public Schools have a pretty good drug testing program and Mobile County might model it.
If so, high school students involved in activities like sports and who drive and park on campus would be the ones who would be tested.
News Five discovered that so far this school year, 249 students in the Mobile County Public School System were suspended for bringing marijuana or a controlled substance on campus.
"Plus we do these anonymous surveys of students about have you used any of these drugs within the last 12 months and we're getting a large percentage of students saying yes," added Dr. Nichols.
Dr. Nichols says parents and students would sign an agreement before any drug testing take place.
no word yet on whether the idea will be adopted.

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According to the Mobile Press Registar, “Nichols said he would recommend adopting a similar plan for Mobile County’s public high schools. He said he expects the testing to cost about $100,000 a year, adding that a local foundation has said it could cover the costs. The superintendent did not identify the organization. “ Why not ask this organization to pay a couple of teachers salaries instead of drug testing. I am sure this organization is going to get something out of this.

Posted by asda on 04/25/08 - 10:16 am • Report Abuse

So where is this money going to come from for the drug testing?

We are going to fire 250 teachers and Sam Jones says he is not going to give any money to the school system because they need to send more police to the schools, and we are going to start drug testing? Sounds to me we are on our way to making these schools into some of the best prisions in the country.

Where is the money going other than to make this guy look good so he can make more money at his next job. That is what got us in this mess in the first place.

Posted by asda on 04/25/08 - 9:44 am • Report Abuse

Mismangement of funds - is a term that comes to mind

Posted by asda on 04/25/08 - 9:38 am • Report Abuse

Drug testing in Mobile County is a horrible idea. It works at Faith Academy and in Baldwin County because you have people who actually have a brain running the institutions. Mobile County can’t run their own budget, how are they going to drug test and handle kids who have drug problems??

Posted by kctenac16 on 04/25/08 - 9:16 am • Report Abuse

Let me see if I understand this situation correctly. Budget cuts are looming, and Mr. Nichols would like to drug test students?

Most of the students who will be tested are those involved in extra curricular activities. Aren’t these the same students already receiving preferential treatment, i.e, athletes, cheerleaders? I agree with the other comment—clean specimens can always be obtained for a price.

Mr. Nichols states that the school board will not have to pay for the testing. Ok – I’ll bite.

So, then what happens to these students who test positive? Who will there to offer counseling and rehabilitation, and where will the funds come from? Or, will the school system simply throw them out of school for the drug courts to handle?

Posted by CrazyEights on 04/25/08 - 9:07 am • Report Abuse

Drug testing in schools is a great idea. Faith Academy has been drug testing students for a while now which is great. Parents and students have to sign forms at the beginning of each year for the drug test to be done. As well as parents pay a small fee per child for the drug test. The students are picked at random for each drug test. Although kids are very smart, random is better to help cut back on kids cheating on the drug test. Now with the public school wanting to limit their drug testing to kids who play sports and kids who drive and park on campus, I do not believe will serve the purpose. It should be all kids tested and not just certain ones. Lets think about it , some of the ones who are being eliminated from the test because of not driving or sports could very well have an issue that needs to be addressed in order to get the help they need now. I also would like to know how the drug test will be paid for considering the school board is always in financial trouble?

Posted by chip68 on 04/25/08 - 8:58 am • Report Abuse

If you drug test them, you had better be more clever than those children. They are innovative. On testing day, drug free kids have earned a lot of money while your evidence and test money was flushed down the toilet.

Posted by Crystal Teeny on 04/25/08 - 8:31 am • Report Abuse