QUINTER TO TEST STUDENTS' BREATH

QUINTER - Besides considering whether to impose corporal punishment,
Quinter USD 293 is considering purchasing a breath-testing machine in order
to test high school students for alcohol use at dances and will continue to
hire a firm that uses trained dogs to detect illegal substances.

Quinter High School Principal Fred Irwin said the request to purchase a
breathalyzer machine is a proactive disciplinary measure, and that it was
not prompted by any particular incident. Rather, he said, it was an
accumulation of reported incidents that could not be verified that prompted
his request.

Irwin believes adding the machine will continue to foster an atmosphere of
safety and better education.

"We have such a fine community and fine school, and the emphasis isn't to
punish anyone but to keep it safe and so parents may feel confident to send
their kids to school," he said.

The board is evaluating Irwin's request and will make its decision at next
month's meeting. If approved, Quinter High School students might have to
undergo a breath test before, during or immediately after school dances.

"My intent is to use it only at dances until we get this thing stopped. I'm
not trying to catch people, but I'm trying to change behavior. They do know
drinking is a risk, and if they violate the policy, they need to pay the
price," Irwin said.

The district's alcohol policy follows the Drug Free School and Communities
Act and is similar to policies in other area high schools. However,
stricter guidelines apply to extracurricular activities. These include but
are not limited to a zero tolerance of alcohol, tobacco or drugs of any
form or participation in any activity or party where these are prevalent.

If breath testing were implemented, Quinter would be one of the first
schools in northwest Kansas to do so.

None of the high schools in Colby, Hill City, Hoxie, Norton, Oakley,
Grainfield or Rexford utilize breath testing, but high schools in Oberlin
and Goodland reserve the right to do so.

In addition to considering use of a breathalyzer, the district decided to
renew its annual contract for contraband detection services with Overland
Park-based Interquest Detection Canines.

Irwin said this will be the second year under contract with Interquest, and
next year, its service will be expanded to include vehicles parked on city
streets near the school.

Superintendent Allaire Homburg told the board he already had discussed with
local law enforcement about including vehicles parked on streets near the
school as being areas of school parking during school hours and school
functions.

The district defines contraband as drugs of abuse - in broadest terms -
along with alcohol, firearms and ammunition, drug prescriptions and
over-the-counter medications.

"We will use the dogs on an as-needed basis a number of times during the
year as a passive indicator of contraband," Irwin said. "The dogs are not
aggressive and are trained to sit rather than scratch upon detection of
contraband."

Irwin also offered suggestions to the board regarding changes in the dress
code, but little discussion took place. The board will evaluate Irwin's
suggestions and discuss them next month.

Irwin told the board it is difficult for him to determine what "appropriate
dress" is due to the fact shorts of the same length vary depending on the
size and stature of a child.

"The key word is 'appropriate,' and what is appropriate?" Irwin said.

"As far as a dress code goes, from a dress code standpoint, there's such a
long list, and if you have someone with several offenses, you'd better be
consistent," Finger said.

"It isn't Fred's dress code, and you have to have a list," board member
Phil Stover said.

Board member Dave Burgess suggested the district require students to wear
uniforms. No discussion followed Burgess' suggestion.