Drug testing forum seeks resident's opinions

A Polson School Board of Trustees special committee is holding a meeting next week to gather community input and give information as it considers implementing a random drug testing policy for all extracurricular activities participants.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the high school auditorium.

The board received a petition, signed by nearly 150 concerned voters, earlier this fall, trustee Vernon Finley said.

Finley chairs the ad hoc committee put together to investigate the possibility of random drug testing for middle and high school extracurricular activities.

“We identified some issues that should be addressed with it, but before we get too far into it, we wanted to get some community input into it . . . kind of give some information about it too, about what other schools thought about its implementation,” Finley said.

Two other trustees on the board, along with high school principal Rick Rafter, athletic director Scott Wilson and middle school assistant principal Tom Digiallonardo will be at the meeting, Finley said.

The committee is still in an “exploratory phase,” Finley said, and has been researching and gathering input from other Montana school districts that have implemented similar policies, and Finley said the feedback has been positive.

Finley said he saw additional community support for addressing the “drug problem” in the schools last year at a forum held during his reelection. He said several students told him after the forum they also believed drugs were a serious issue.

As the committee gains information about the extent of the problem and how to best solve it, Finley reiterated the importance of running ideas and proposals by community members to further stimulate dialogue, because it is an issue the community is concerned about.

“Personally, the number of signatures of voters (on the petition) in the district caught my attention. Also, I have a sixth-grader who is keenly aware of drug use . . . that’s scary,” Finley said. “If (community members) have an opinion, either pro or con for drug testing, we would like to hear it.”

A flyer sent to local parents said that “the information gained during this public forum will be critical in the decision making process.” It also states that written comments can be submitted to Vernon Finley at 111 Fourth Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860.