One bad apple doesn't justify mass drug tests

EDITOR:
As executive director of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, I wanted to take the opportunity to respond to The Vindicator's May 26 editorial concerning the Girard City Schools situation involving the scandal surrounding the recently resigned superintendent.
Your editorial correctly identifies the important trust parents and community members place in the staff that work in our schools as they care for, transport, feed, and educate the children of the Girard City Schools. As a union, we stand for and behind progressive attempts to ensure that employees take the utmost caution and care for the work they do. You are correct in pointing out that drug and alcohol testing is an important negotiated tool for community confidence and proper administration of sound and safe employment procedures. However, calling for voluntary drug testing of all employees is not an appropriate reaction to this isolated case -- even given the outrageous and thoroughly disgusting allegations at hand.
Privacy considerations, appropriate employment issues, and the sheer ethical matters involved in mass testing, not to mention the reliability of the tests themselves, make this suggestion less than desirable. The fact is that the current system of testing in particular job classifications is working in Girard and many other locations in Ohio. Let's not jump to conclusions that would weaken the strong level of trust between school employees and their communities because of one bad apple.
JOSEPH P. RUGOLA
Columbus
Noise ordinance hurts Boardman, doesn't help
EDITOR:
Years ago, a very wise man stated that our form of government "was conceived by patriots and run by idiots." That fact was brought home to me last week by the action of the Boardman Township trustees (not patriots) when they adopted a noise ordinance pretty much up to the discretion of a police officer answering a complaint.
What are they thinking? Just at the time when the Super Nationals are coming into town to put $7 to $10 million dollars into the local economy and the Bull and Bear Restaurant is starting to promote programs, including national talent previously available only in Cleveland or Pittsburgh, these nuts pass an ordinance severely limiting times of operation.
Somebody call 911. Boardman Township has been shot in the foot again by the very people elected to govern, promote and serve it.
Without a doubt, something does need to be done about the loud car stereos because they can be a danger. The driver may not be aware of a siren or other sounds and situations around him. This needs to be controlled by use of a decibel meter, not at the discretion of a gung-ho policeman who needs an extra star in his crown. Let's do things right or not at all.
As far as the Super Nats go, it's three days each year and compared to the revenue brought in, it's a small inconvenience. Regarding the Bull & amp; Bear, 11:30 p.m. is a reasonable hour for them to stop their program. After all, there are virtually no residential neighbors near their location. How many other area businesses will benefit from their investment? The correct answer is all of them.
In the case of our trustees, "there are none so blind as those who will not see."
ROY W. STRAIGHT
Boardman