Drug testing students involved in extra-curricular activities was an item that came before the Alliance School Board again on July 10, with a crowd of people packing the meeting room and sharing their insights with the board before members voted on the second, and final reading of the policy.
Superintendent Dr. Troy Unzicker explained he viewed the policy that was approved by board members in June as an administrative regulation to go with an existing policy.
“Basically, that got challenged,” said Unzicker. “I did visit with the attorney and had him review the policy to make sure it was okay. If you remember, it was in two formats, there was middle school and high school. He recommended with the split vote, to avoid any chance of litigation, we go ahead and actually number this policy, treat that as the first reading and bring this back as a second reading.”
Unzicker explained that the policy that was presented by the group of students requesting drug testing be implemented was mostly unchanged, aside from changing the wording to match the middle school or high school.
Board Member Edison Red Nest III moved to approve the policy, with a second coming from Board Member Shana Brown, opening discussion by the board members.
Board Member Tim Richey addressed a number of questions and concerns, stating he wants to implement the best policy for Alliance Public Schools. He explained that a lot of pressure falls on coaches, and he believes this policy could help to raise standards. He recognized that not all kids do drugs, but he emphasized that if the program could deter just one young person from using drugs, it would be a success.
“I know not all kids do drugs,” said Richey. “I have good kids, and I hope they never touch the stuff. I have family members that have been involved with it, and I see those who have struggled to get over it, and I hope my kids are open with us and they never have to deal with that. Associations make a big difference. If we can save one kid from not doing it, that makes the big difference.
“I feel like as a school district, we look at their academics, we want them to succeed,” Richey said. “We want them to go to college. We want them to be successful. We want them to be a good member of the community and society, have children, raise them well. I think this helps them get that standard that is going to be needed. Let’s raise them up now so they can achieve that. I don’t care about a winning record on the field, I care about the player who comes off the field.”
Richey said he would like to see a change in the policy that would not permanently remove students out of the sports programs if they test positive so many times. He explained he recognizes the need for consequences, but noted that permanently removing a student from extracurricular activities would do more harm in the end.
Unzicker explained that passing the policy as it stands and making amendments at a later date following research would be the best way to handle a change like Richey described.
“This whole thing is about not losing kids to drugs,” said Richey. “A lot of these kids that are starting it are starting it below the age of 18. Once they hit 12, they’re being introduced, and they’re starting on that stuff. If we’re focused on trying to save kids, I don’t want to say to a junior, ‘you’re out.’ I want to give them every chance. I don’t want to lose any kid just because they don’t fit into a policy.”
Red Nest spoke next, urging fellow board members and the community to recognize alcohol use as another severe issue the community faces. He explained that through his experience providing diversion services for Box Butte County, he has seen the majority of cases revolve around alcohol.
“For me, I would like the people to know, I’m in favor of this,” Red Nest said. “I’m in favor of testing, but more so, I’m in favor of alcohol testing over anything. We have a high percentage of kids that do drink. Something’s gotta change with this. You guys are asking us to be up here, to be anti-drug. Miss Hood (Colleen Hood, who spoke in favor of the policy during public comment), she’s the only one that talked about alcohol. The only one that mentioned something about that. So, if you want us to be anti-drug and anti-alcohol, you’ve got to be anti-alcohol at home.
“Miss Tearza (Mashburn, who spoke in favor of the policy during public comment), said that it’s a privilege, it’s our privilege to be involved in your children’s lives, and that’s correct,” said Red Nest. “It’s our privilege to implement this; it’s our privilege to do our best to protect your children, but are you going to do that same thing at home? Are you going to stop drinking, because I’m sure most of you don’t use. You’re going to ask us to do that stuff, but you’ve gotta do it, too.”
Red Nest explained that he is working to bring to Alliance Public Schools alcohol tests that can test the protein breakdown left from alcohol up to two weeks after consuming it.
“I believe alcohol has become out of control in this community, with our parents, with our children,” said Red Nest. “Something needs to be done.”
Red Nest said he was initially opposed to the policy before he heard from local youth about how they are concerned for their peers.
“There was one kid, and he’s not here tonight, the thing that changed my mind was, he said, and nobody else heard this because everyone was talking, but he said his friend is literally killing himself right now, there’s not a single thing he can do about it, and maybe this drug testing will help him,” said Red Nest. “That’s what did it for me. That’s what changed my mind, that one kid.”
Board President Tim Kollars acknowledged that there is a problem with drugs in the community, but that he is still opposed to a policy that does not test every student.
“I’m still against this, and it’s not because I’m against drug testing, it’s because I’m against random,” Kollars said. “I think if we really want to care that much about these kids, they should test them all when they go in, then we can know who to help. We’re sitting here, we’re taking a random test, and that means we’re not going to know. How can you help somebody if you don’t know.
“The problem with random tests, there’s no proof they work,” Kollars said. “That being said, I really want to do something for these kids, because I know we have a problem out there, but I’m not going to vote for this simply because I think it needs to be broader. I think our administration, and our teachers need to do things like Mr. Flick (Tim Flick, who spoke in favor of the policy during public comment), and really, we need to be the ones guiding on this. The kids know who’s doing it, and we need to know who’s doing it, and a random drug test, from my perspective, is not it. That being said, I already know I’m going to lose the vote. Just so you know where I’m at, I don’t want anybody saying I’m against testing for drugs because I know we have a problem. I’m fully aware of that.”
Board members voted 5-1 in favor of implementing the policy, with Kollars providing the only vote in opposition.
The following is a copy of the policy provided by Alliance Public Schools: