<p>I was surprised to read this article.</p>
<p><a href=“Drug tests mean haircuts for students at St. Edward, St. Ignatius and Gilmour Academy - cleveland.com”>Drug tests mean haircuts for students at St. Edward, St. Ignatius and Gilmour Academy - cleveland.com;
<p>“The announcement of the testing plan drew both praise and criticism from the public, along with concerns about a possible conflict of interest between St. Edward President James Kubacki and Psychemedics, which is run by his brother.”</p>
<p>“There were also concerns that police would seek test results to pursue criminal charges against students, though police said they would only seek results in rare cases.”</p>
<p>I was going to say it sounds like a silly waste of money but they’re private schools. So they can waste their money in a silly way if they want. </p>
<p>What is their plan when you have a less than ideal test result? Kid gets kicked out? Referred to the police?</p>
<p>They say that no one has withdrawn because of it. I guess they know their audience. </p>
<p>The fact that this boondoggle is going to line the pockets of the president’s brother is astonishing. Even if people are willing to have their kids forced to submit to this invasion of privacy, one would think the conflict of interest would raise eyebrows.</p>
<p>Our district did something similar.
Bought standardized testing from a company where the superintendent was on the parent company board.
She lied about it initially, but it was suspicious when the contract did not go out for bids.</p>
<p>If anyone is worried and you don’t mind damaging your hair, chemical processing apparently will fool the test.
<a href=“I passed the Psychemedics Hair Follicle Drug test with 6 days clean | 420 Magazine”>I passed the Psychemedics Hair Follicle Drug test with 6 days clean | 420 Magazine;
<p>Perhaps students can protest by shaving their heads before the schedule hair sample day.</p>
<p>Lol. How corrupt. I wouldn’t have my kids in Catholic school in the first place, but I’d likely pull my kid out if they did something like this. What an invasion of privacy. Beyond that, I’d be furious that this was being done, probably primarily, to enrich a sibling. </p>
<p>Catholic school kids do have a reputation that is well deserved from what I’ve seen, but if you need a drug test to find out your kid is using substances, you have other problems.</p>
<p>I have to wonder what input the parents had in the decision.</p>
<p>According to spring news reports, parents learned at the same time as students.
The committee consisted of administration, the board of trustees and ONE teacher.
No indication anyone from the parent board even knew of the discussion.</p>
<p>An editorial from a student.
( not published in the school paper, btw)
<a href=“http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2014/05/08/heres-a-st-ignatius-students-op-ed-on-new-drug-testing-program-that-school-officials-spiked-from-the-student-newspaper”>http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2014/05/08/heres-a-st-ignatius-students-op-ed-on-new-drug-testing-program-that-school-officials-spiked-from-the-student-newspaper</a></p>
<p>By not notifying parents until spring, that really limits their ability to change schools, as it is generally after the date for any school except for public, and it would be too late to ask for a particular school in our district.</p>
<p>I maybe could understand it if they were having a huge drug problem.
Are there gangs dealing drugs in their school?
Overdose deaths?
High amount of truancy and drug related arrests?
If not, and I don’t suspect there are, then it seems purely motivated by money, and by the head of school wanting to show that he has control over the board and the school.</p>
<p>Additionally, that’s $50,000 in fees which could have gone for something else, like health education.</p>
<p>Will the administration and teaching staff volunteer for the same drug testing as well?</p>