Dist. 95 shoots down random drug tests
As expected, the Lake Zurich Unit School District 95 board on Thursday rejected a proposal that would have forced local high school students to submit to random drug tests.
The vote came two weeks after the board unveiled the results of a community survey that showed 76 percent of District 95 parents opposed the plan. That night, a majority of board members acknowledged the community's strong feelings on the matter and said they would vote against the plan.
And that's what happened at Thursday's meeting at Lake Zurich High. Board members Kathy Brown, Michael Finn, Doug Goldberg, John Knopf and Kathleen Wallis opposed the proposal. Jim Burke voted “present,” which is counted with the majority.
Board member Tony Pietro, acknowledged Thursday as the leading proponent of the plan on the board, abstained.
Before the vote, board members thanked residents for researching the drug-testing proposal and for sharing their opinions on the matter.
They also encouraged the people who were involved in the debate to stay active and help them develop programs for students about illegal drug use.
“This woke up a lot of people,” Finn said.
“I'm hoping this opens a door and some people come forward to help us take this to the next level,” Kropf said.
Drug use at Lake Zurich High may be no worse than at any other high school, Burke said, “but it's still an issue, and it needs to be addressed.”
Pietro suggested people interested in the issue look into the Ela Coalition Against Youth Substance Abuse, a local group. It next meets Nov. 28 at the police station, he said.