Districts routinely test students at school events Replacement promised. Questionable photo led to ripping-out of Page 224. W ednesday, June 14, 2006 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times Delaware Valley Regional High School officials began randomly testing students for alcohol at all school dances in 1999, Superintendent Martin Matula said. The decision came after they discovered empty alcohol bottles in cars and limousines in a parking lot during a school dance. Matula is satisfied with the simple system he believes can save lives. "We've been pretty pleased with it," Matula said. "We believe somewhere along the way we may have saved an accident." During school dances, about 10 to 20 percent of students are randomly chosen for the test, he said. A state police officer administered the test at the school's prom this year. Students who turn up positive, although none have yet, are removed from the dance and are recommended for alcohol counseling, he said. Only students whose parents or guardians sign a form allowing the district to test their child if selected are permitted in dances. Students who pass the Breathalyzer test are sometimes reimbursed for the dance's ticket. At Hunterdon Central Regional High School, staff members test students believed to be under the influence of alcohol during an off-site school event, including dances, school spokeswoman Nancy Tucker said. "The first thing that happens is a student is taken aside, and the parent is immediately called and informed," Tucker said. Parents can then opt to take their children to a medical facility for testing or staff can test them at the event. Staff members are given small oral swab kits that detect the level of alcohol present in a student's system. At Hackettstown High School, staff or chaperones use the "smell test" to determine if a student could be under the influence of alcohol during a prom or other school event, Superintendent Robert Gratz said. If so, school officials handle the situation accordingly by doing further testing, he said. Officials randomly test high school students for drug use, and they are considering extending the testing to detect the presence of alcohol, Gratz said. Hunterdon Central's random testing policy includes drug and alcohol use, Tucker said. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.