FPS Revisits Drug Policy

By Gordon HopkinsThe Fairbury Public School Board of Education held what Superintendent Stephen Grizzle described as a “work session” to revisit Policy 501, the Extracurricular Drug Testing Program, on Friday, July 29, 2022.Drug testing has been a controversial subject for the school since 2019, when the School Board voted unanimously to add nicotine to the school's drug testing protocols and policy. FPS gained brief national attention when it became one of the first schools in the country to do so.The decision at that time was made due to concerns about the increase in vaping among students. Vaping is the inhaling of nicotine with an electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette. An e-cigarette heats a liquid to create an aerosol, called “vapor,” that can be inhaled.It should be noted that the nicotine testing only applies to those students participating in extracurricular activities.During the School Board meeting of Monday, July 11, 2022, the board discussed and approved various new policies or changes to existing policies. However, when the topic turned to drug testing, Board member Jodi Starr expressed doubts that the nicotine testing policy was accomplishing its goal, “It's just like we discussed in our little meeting last year. They've (students) graduated high school, and they're still doing it. And you haven't, you're not deterring them.”Starr added, “Actually, you’re deterring participation period, because kids are actually saying, screw it. I won't go out for anything.”“You already have a policy that the NSAA (Nebraska School Activities Association) puts in to effect if a kid gets caught outside of school. So why do we have to be the drug police? I mean, I don't think we can be drug counselors very well,” said Starr. “It’s a waste of resources.”“You might need a turn a few from doing it, while they're in high school and participating. But once they graduate,” said Starr. “I don't think we’re stopping them.”Starr acknowledged that not everyone agrees with her, “You know, when I mention it to a parent, the parents (say), ‘So you're promoting drug use.’ No, I'm promoting parenting at home. School doesn't have to be the drug police. We have the law enforcement to do that and we have the NSAA policy.”Grizzle responded, “I remember when we adopted the policy, we had two basic goals.”“So, we were hoping that by doing one of the things, you know, drug testing, that would show that we don't have a bunch of drug users at school,” said Grizzle. “The second goal was to hopefully encourage kids to say no. Now the kids that are addicted, I don't know that we are achieving that goal as much. But I do believe that if a kid's on the fence, this is a way to say no.”Grizzle said, “First, I don't think it's achieving everything that I hoped it would achieve. But I also don't think that it's wrong to try and curtail (drug) use and to bring awareness to families.”Public ReactionSome members of the public have expressed concern that the School Board will scrap the drug testing policy entirely, including Fairbury Mayor Spencer brown, who posted on Facebook, “Speaking as a parent of 6 kids (not mayor). It's come to my attention that the Fairbury school board may potentially roll back and get rid of drug testing. I am not sure I understand or have heard a good argument to change this…”Peggy Galloway, director of Jefferson County Diversion Services, responded to the mayor's post, “I feel that, especially at this time in our society, we as adults need to do everything we can to deter kids from drinking, smoking and using drugs. Early intervention is key to stopping the problem before it becomes a life-long addiction. With fentanyl being slipped into everything from marijuana, meth, cocaine, heroin and pills (which have all been found in this county), it's a crisis that is only getting worse. All kids in the jr-sr high school should be in the random pool for testing. There are tests that cost $10 that the school nurse could administer and read the results. If someone is found to be positive, the parents should be notified and law enforcement - it is illegal after all and they have to be getting it from somewhere. The school can also refer them to Blue Valley Behavioral Health to do a drug/alcohol assessment and mental health screening to determine which direction the family can take to a) stop the use and b) find out if there is trauma that pushed them into it in the first place. The school spends more time with the kids than anyone else, so if they suspect someone is under the influence, they should be ready to steer them in the direction of getting help. Keep in mind that it only takes enough fentanyl to equal five grains of salt to kill an adult. This isn't the time to do less, but do more.”Random TestingStarr raised another issue during the School Board meeting. Drug testing is intended to be random. Starr said, “I watch who gets tested. And we can say it's random. And you guys can tell me till you're blue in the face, it's random. I just don't believe it.”Starr said, “Because you have people that are go their whole (school) career without being tested. And you have people that ding once, and they're tested four months later, just randomly? Random? I don't buy it.”Starr added, “I don’t know. I should have voted no.”Other individuals have expressed doubt that drug testing is random, including Fairbury City Councilperson Bradley Kuzelka, who posted on Facebook, “It's not ‘random’ anyway. My kids have all been tested, multiple times, usually all on the same day. That means 2 Kuzelka kids have ‘randomly’" selected at the same time on multiple occasions over several years.”Next StepsThe School Board will meet again on August 8. Grizzle indicated the board will act on three related items at that time: To Approve to continue testing or not continue.To Approve to continue testing for nicotine or not.To approve the suggested amendments to the policy.

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