The case for prom breathalyzing

Both Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde high school administrators have asked the Board of Education to create a policy that authorizes them to breathalyze all high school dance attendees. The decision to request this policy did not come easily nor was it hastily made. It has surely evolved from years of collective experience as dance chaperones and observing firsthand the realities of the times. Our administrators state that nearly all of our alcohol-related high school suspensions occur at dances. Realizing the challenges that our administrators have faced in order to protect the wellness and safety of all students at dances, a Joint High School PTA Task Force offered to research this issue in October 2008. Their yearlong research included meeting with educational professionals, inquiring to neighboring districts, attending related events in similar communities, analyzing student surveys, and interviewing staff, students and parents. They Googled, e-mailed, queried and consulted both locally and nationally. Their sources have included other Fairfield County high schools, the Fairfield Police Department, the First Selectman's Task Force on Alcohol and Health, Trumbull Partnership Against Underage Drinking, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, drug/alcohol counselors (both at our high schools and privately-practicing), attorneys, pediatric neurologists, alcohol detection device manufacturers, Gov. Rell's office and even the U.S. Supreme Court.

After their extensive research, the PTA committee conferred with administrators and concluded that the practice of using routine breathalyzers (all students breathalyzed at all dances) is the most suitable option to deter drinking at school dances. Questions of liability, effectiveness, Fourth Amendment (search and seizure) rights, practicality and expense were all quelled by their research findings and the testimony of administrators at Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Wilton and Trumbull high schools, where breathalyzers have been administered routinely at all dances for several years now. All of these high schools report extremely high satisfaction with their policy. Many emphasized the ease of use and accuracy of the passive (no contact with mouth) devices, the quick acceptance by students and, most importantly, the tremendous reduction in alcohol-related incidents.

The committee presented its findings and BOE policy recommendation to the 2009-10 Fairfield PTA Council where it was supported unanimously by all 16 Fairfield PTA presidents. Then, last Oct. 26, a full year since they initiated the research, they culminated their efforts with a presentation at a Joint High School PTA Task Force meeting

It is now seven months later and most of our 2010 proms have come and gone. Shockingly, there still exists no Fairfield Board of Education policy on breathalyzing. A series of missteps have occurred since the Board of Education took this issue under consideration. To her credit, Chairman Sue Brand encouraged the BOE subcommittee on policy (chaired by Stacey Zahn) to develop a breathalyzer policy early this year. Apparently, half a year was not enough time to formulate a policy of one or two simple sentences that would direct the administrators to "use breathalyzers on all students at all dances." Ms. Zahn submitted a disjointed paragraph as policy at the March 9 BOE meeting that lacked clarity and authority. A bewildered-looking full board recommended to return it to the subcommittee for revisions. Incredibly, the second version proposed at the April 27 BOE meeting was nearly identical and included language that continued to dissatisfy most members.

Knowing time was now of the essence and determined to insure a safe and healthy 2010 prom season, board member Perry Liu motioned to amend its wording at the table in hopes of salvaging a simple and direct policy that could be voted on that night as the agenda had stated; the majority agreed to approve Mr. Liu's changes in wording. But the pre-vote discussion revealed a more serious roadblock than ambiguous vocabulary. While listening to the BOE members openly discuss breathalyzers, our proms, past practice, underage drinking and the law, it became apparent that many of them had not done their homework. Their comments often indicated a lack of research and knowledge of the issue. This was particularly frustrating for parents and staff in the audience who were well-versed on this important issue but had never been contacted for their research.

Perhaps confusing lack of understanding for controversy, board member Catherine Albin suddenly moved to table the policy vote and the new vote date became June 8 ... well after the 2010 proms! This appeared to many to be an attempt to avoid taking a stand on a timely and critical issue affecting the health and safety of our children. Vice Chairman Pam Iacono apologized for the delay but stated that "it all felt too rushed!" Too rushed? Nine people had seven months to write a two-sentence policy that most of our neighboring schools have been successfully implementing for many years.

We thank Sue Brand, Perry Liu and Sue Dow for their supportive words and votes.

We also must directly state our disappointment in the rest of the BOE members for having failed to respect the timeline to keep safe and healthy the over 1,500 Fairfield teenagers who will have attended our 2010 proms. Their lack of focus, decisiveness and action is unacceptable. They have put our children's well-being at risk.

Maureen Barre, Lia Carter, BettyAnn O'Shaughnessy, Cathy Coyle, Elise McKay, Nancy Church, Nancy Billington , Wendy DeMilt, Kristy Macoy, Leslie Parmiter, Juie Anderson, Stephanie Hilton, Laura Karson, Lynn McNulty, Suzette Andrews, Christine Rose. Lisa Bond, Corinne Gulian, Cathy Walsh, Laura Amicucci, Joleen Marren, Wendy Bentivegna, Jennifer Meagher, Peggy Mahder, Shaun Amberg, Julie Wyckoff, Lisa Krumins

The 2009-2010 Executive Board and Committee Chairs

Fairfield Ludlowe

High School

Parent Teacher Association