SCHOOL BOARD Policy set on attire, drugs

One school board member opposed the drug testing policy.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- This fall, New Castle Area School District pupils can expect random drug testing and to have their apparel regulated.
School board members approved two policies Wednesday night that received both praise and opposition from the nearly 90 people in attendance.
Drug testing got a unanimous show of support from all who spoke, but the school apparel policy had its share of detractors.
Tiffany Yakubik, a pupil at Ben Franklin Junior High School, said the dress policy will do little to bridge the socioeconomic gap between youngsters -- a reason given by the district for the new policy.
Pupils will still be able to wear jewelry and their choice of shoes. Clothing will be restricted to black or khaki-colored pants and a choice of shirts to be sold by the district in red, gray and white.
"People who make fun of others because of what they wear won't be stopped by this policy," Tiffany said.
Eric Johnson, another pupil at Ben Franklin, however, applauded the school board for implementing the dress guidelines. He said boys are sometimes distracted by some of the clothing worn by girls.
Other opinions
High School senior Randy Querriera said the district didn't need to implement a new policy, just enforce the current one.
"I see body parts I shouldn't see. We have a policy, but it's not being enforced," he said.
Some parents also opposed the policy.
Atty. Jonathan Solomon held up three shirts his son wore to school on a regular basis -- two button-down shirts and a T-shirt with the name of the school musical on it. He called the policy a violation of pupils' constitutional rights.
"I can tell all parents to resist and boycott your policy. Send your children to school in reasonable clothes. Tell them you are not going to participate, and they can't make you," he said.
Solomon said after the board meeting that he will represent any parent wishing to challenge the policy. "It's illegal and unenforceable," he said.
But other parents approved of the dress policy.
"Let's get rid of all the distractions and focus on the teaching," said Robert Perotta, a father of eight children.
Who will be tested
There was no opposition in the audience for a random drug testing policy approved by the board.
Random drug testing will be required of all athletes, pupils with school parking permits and those in extracurricular activities that are physical such as a ski or swimming club.
The policy also allows administrators to test pupils who they suspect may be using drugs.
Superintendent George Gabriel said all administrators agreed to be part of the random drug testing pool too.
The district will hire a company that will randomly select pupils and perform the drug tests.
School board member Andrea Przybylski voted against the drug testing policy, citing a study that contends drug testing does not deter drug use.
Gabriel, however, presented information that the study Przybylski cited was flawed. He cited other studies that contend drug use dropped after random drug testing was adopted in some schools.
cioffi@vindy.com