Jim Quirico, Amwell Road
A new and somewhat trouble matter is starting to become the talk of the town among students, teachers and the township as a whole.
Recently, the residents of Hillsborough have been made aware of a plan to randomly test students of the Hillsborough High School. Athletes, students involved in clubs and extra curricular activities, and those who apply for parking passes would become part of the pool to be tested. The plan is similar to one implemented by the Hunterdon Central School system in 1998.
The hopes are the drug and alcohol use in the High School, which in recent years has increased, would drop dramatically.
While I fully back such a vigorous and well-prepared plan, I am concerned that the township, as a whole, does not know such a plan is being implemented. People are getting misinformation on this issue.
The public needs to be made aware of the creation of this policy, and further public discussion is needed.
I was at the Jan. 3rd meeting and I was appalled on the lack of knowledge on the policy, even from the members of the Board of Education.
The district has numerous resources to better notify the public, and unfortunately, they haven’t been fully utilized. The town’s radio station, the newly created instant alert system that calls the parents of students, the Internet, and even sending copies of the policy via U.S. mail to the township’s residence would prove beneficial.
Furthermore, I would personally like to see an alternate committee formed of students, teachers, parents, and other residents of the township, to get some feedback and maybe make suggestions, be it positive or negative, to help in this matter.
We need to get feedback from all corners of the township, not just the few that show up to the board meetings on a whim. Underage drug and alcohol use is on the rise, and the community needs to take a more proactive role in this matter.
