Alcohol Testing For Students?! "Brilliant" or "Batty"

Kids appear to have changed very little since the day I was young, just like today there are good ones, bad ones and those you wonder about. For the most part underage drinking did go on then as it does today. This is just part of the youth culture and common everyday peer pressure.

Now here is the off the wall idea that Harvey Polanski has... imposing a Breathalyzer test at school functions. Although this idea has not yet been approved, Polanski intends to ask the school board to approve it. Adults working at school events will be the ones required to administer these tests to students.

When I personally asked students how they felt about this idea, many outright laughed and those that did not felt it was a violation of their privacy. One student called it extreme and characteristic of a "police state" mentality.

Should Polanski succeed in getting this mandatory test approved, students indicated that he better start patting down students as well. One student, who does not want his name mentioned, indicated that if he chooses to get drunk at prom night he will just show up sober, and drink inside the event after he is tested.

Knowing the will and resolve of kids, I can agree that this will agitate a "cat and mouse" game with authorities. This program will also cost the taxpayers money that is in short supply. Adults will need training, and police will be involved in prosecuting kids at school events who may have tested positive for alcohol, when in reality they could be under the influence of an alcohol based medication like cough syrup.

Hopefully this terrible idea will not pass as it sends a clear and compelling message to our town kids that they must all lose their liberty and trust because of a few kids with an alcohol problem. School staff, and teachers for the most part already know what kids pose the greatest risks of drug abuse and alcoholism without a needed test. It is not hard to recognize a drunken youth, faculty senses do not need to be replaced with costly digital machines.

This news is also preceded by automakers exploring the introduction of the Alcokey system. This system will require that the driver blow into a tube, passing this sobriety test will result in the reward of your car starting. Some fear that onstar will also get in on this "nanny state" technology and actually call the police if the Alcokey system fails the driver.

Milford Schools Undergo Summer Upgrades

With the school year ended and summer rolling in the Milford school system has taken no time off. As the students rolled out the contractors rolled in, fixing everything from leaky roofs, to floor replacements to computer and computer room upgrades.

Emergency lighting at Foran High School is scheduled for and upgrade, making that school compliant as an emergency shelter in the event of a crisis. The lighting is also ecofriendly and is expected to use less energy.

The task is all part of Supt. Polanski's mission to keep Milford schools growing to a first class institution a job that he recently took on and perilously sailed through some difficult tests of budgetary restraints. Polanski's budget was challenged by local Alderman in a melee of hard questioning, and local parents retaliated with over 2000 signatures on a petition to reinstate the money that the Alderman cut. Polanski emerged with as good of a victory as one could expect, no teachers layed off and the city lost one of its three trash pick up days to fund the schools.

Polanski was recently praised by the Board of Education last Monday night when members released a statement calling him a compassionate and decisive leader who brought needed changes to the district.

This fall the construction will be hopefully complete, and when it is, next years students will enjoy the many improvements that I believe are moving Milford in the right direction of building a solid foundation, and a better learning environment to secure their place in the future.

Milford Parent Disappointed With Event Cancellation

The following letter was submitted to my blog this morning. It speaks to the feelings of many parents not just this one instance. Letter sent via E-Mail to Superintendent Polansky.

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Dear Mr. Polansky,

I am sending this email out of sheer disappointment and frustration. My daughter is an 8th grader at Harborside Middle School. There have been at least 2 recent situations that I have found disturbing and totally unacceptable. The first is the cancellation of the 8th grade lock-in due to a “lack of chaperones”. I have spoken with many other parents who feel the same way about how this was handled. The automated phone calls from the school are a great way to communicate DIRECTLY with parents. This system was used but only to cancel the event rather than to alert parents ahead of time that unless a specific number of parents came forward to volunteer that the event would need to be cancelled. This was very upsetting to me as this event was to make up for the 8th grade trip to Washington DC. that was also canceled.

The second unacceptable situation is that I received a letter on April 4th, dated April 1st congratulating my daughter, Lea, as her art work was chosen to be on display at the Parsons Complex. The letter was an invitation to a reception with refreshments etc. I opened my mail that evening (8:15pm) only to find that the event was the day before!!! I was so angry. How is it that if it this opening reception was to honor the accomplishment of these select students, that this delay in informing parents could happen? Lea was so upset. It was a week of disappointment that could have and should have been avoided. I have spoken with both the Dean and the secretary at Harboside. I have heard all of the reasons and excuses. I am not satisfied.

I am concerned that these 2 very recent situations have brought down kid’s spirits and have lessened their faith in the adults they have trusted and counted on. I would like to know what the Board of Education will do to ensure that this will not be the norm for Milford Public Education.

I would appreciate a prompt response as my blood has been boiling.

Sincerely,
Terri Finch

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