NILES SCHOOLS Board delays action on requiring drug testing for prospective hires

Two parents questioned the use of fingerprints on student ID cards.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The city board of education has decided to postpone any decision to require drug testing of prospective employees.
Board president Robert Davis instructed Superintendent Rocco Adduci to get additional information about testing from the Ohio School Boards Association and other school districts.
The board had instructed Adduci to get information on requiring drug tests for prospective hires.
Union contracts allow for drug testing of full-time employees if there is probable cause to believe a test is needed.
School bus employees are tested as required by state law.
However, substitute teachers and those with supplemental contracts and not full-time employees are not tested.
Legal advice
Adduci told the board Thursday that the district's legal counsel has advised that if the board decides to require drug testing that it include substitutes and those with supplemental contracts.
Adduci said this would amount to 125 to 170 tests initially at $38.50 each.
Either the district or the individuals would pay, the superintendent said. He noted that new substitutes are required to pay for their own background checks before being hired.
It would take two weeks from the time of testing to get the results. If a would-be hire fails the test, the applicant has five days to provide a prescription that might have caused the negative results.
Adduci pointed out that the test is only a "snapshot" of a person's condition that may change.
Looking at a drug testing policy, Davis said, is not indication of any problem with drugs among school employees.
Board member Wanda Burns and John Tricomi agreed with Davis that additional questions need answered before making a decision.
During the meeting, two parents expressed concern about using fingerprints on student identification cards that would be used to charge student accounts for lunches.
They said the concern surrounds identity theft and that use of a student number would be safer than fingerprints.
Adduci pointed out that only a portion of the fingerprint would be used if the board adopts the program.
He encouraged parents to attend an informational meeting about the swipe system at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the high school auditorium.
yovich@vindy.com