Huntley High to have a random drug test policy

Following an emotional debate weighing student privacy against the dangers of drugs, the Huntley Unit District 158 school board approved the district's first random drug testing policy on Thursday.

Starting next year, Huntley High School will randomly test male and female athletes and other students who participate in competitive after-school activities.

The policy underwent numerous revisions before it was approved Thursday. Administrators modified the policy to apply only to competitive activities in response to concerns from the board that the policy would scare students away from activities such as chorus and drama.

On Thursday, board Secretary Kim Skaja, the sole board member to vote against the policy, reiterated her fear that the new measure would discourage students from joining sports and clubs.

"We are saying to our kids that we believe you are all criminals and we are going to treat you as such," Skaja said.

Skaja's emotional appeal drew a strong response from board President Shawn Green.

"That could not be further from the truth," Green said. Because of the new policy, he added, "There's going to be plenty of kids who are going to say, 'Peer pressure be damned,'" when confronted with the choice to use drugs.

Board members and district officials have said the high school could use positive test results to help students with a drug problem.

"Sometimes you don't have a choice in a world that is so strange," board member Aileen Seedorf said about enacting the policy. "You hope that you can stop the kids before they go too far."