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High school seniors Tom Wolff, the Fairfield Warde student liaison to the Board of Education, and Sarah Finlaw, the Fairfield Ludlowe student liaison, came to their final meeting in their positions hoping to have an impact on a vote on the heated breathalyzer issue. But the decision was tabled again by the Board of Education last night by a 6-2-1 vote.
The new breathalyzer policy, which has been weakened over months of debate, states that the Board of Education endorses the use of breathalyzer tests at school-sponsored dances and upon reasonable notice, other school sponsored events on and off site,at the discretion of the school administration. All students and guests would be tested and must pass in order to enter an event. Currently students may only be tested if they appear to be drunk.
The policy has been supported by both the Parent-Teacher Association and both high school's headmasters, as well as many other staff members. Twelve Connecticut school districts, including five in Fairfield County, have breathalyzer policies already.
The decision to postpone the vote, put forth by board member John Mitola, was made to allow for a survey of students to be conducted and for new superintendent David Title, who takes over July 1, to have his voice heard.
"When [Sept. 28] arrives, we will have the same situation as we have now," said resident J. Alfred Dunn. "I get the feeling that there is a subtle militancy against admitting to the problem of drinking in this town."
But not all the voices in the crowd supported the policy. John Bartolone, a Fairfield parent said that he does not think the school administration and staff should be responsible for his child's behavior before arriving at a student event.
Wolff said that he believes a survey of students, while not a determinative factor, would be a valuable asset, because it would allow these who are not outspoken on the issue to be heard. In addition, he said he has heard from students who don't drink, that breathalyzers would be intimidating.
Board Members Pam Iacono and Tim Kery both said they went to the town's proms and saw little of the bad behavior that has been reported to them in emails from parents. However, resident Nancy Billington said that while the proms may have gone well this year, she believes at least a half dozen students were suspended for drinking at the Ludlowe homecoming dance in October. Finlaw, the student liaison, said that was correct and that drinking definitely happened at the prom.
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