ELDRED, NY — Since its first mention at the September 10 Eldred Board of Education meeting, the “drug problem” in the Eldred Central school system has been the topic of discussion in every classroom, corridor and lunch table in the Junior/Senior High School. Students have been abuzz with fierce opinions on the potential problem, ranging from lauding the proposal to drug test every student in Eldred, to denouncing those suggesting it.

Long-time Eldred sports coach and substitute teacher Josh Santoro proposed at the meeting that Eldred “start drug testing right now” for athletics, in order to cut any increased present and future use of hard drugs to the minimum.

“We have no choice here,” said Santoro. “We’re talking about heroin.” Santoro added that drug testing should be done for any and every student in any and every extracurricular activity, including drama club, band, chorus, IT club and the like.

The students’ response to this proposal is mixed.

Gemma McAfee and Francine McDonnell, two juniors at Eldred, agreed that drug testing is fair. “If you want to do a sport, you shouldn’t be doing drugs,” asserted McAfee. McDonnell agreed. McAfee then went on to add, “You have to drug test everyone if you’re going to drug test. You can’t just test a few people. That’s not fair.”

When asked if there is a drug problem in Eldred, McAfee said, “I think that it’s only a problem with a select few students.”

Sami and Bailey Laput, twins, and Ella Sherwood, three juniors who were asked the same question, insisted, “No.” Their response was the same when asked if they know any students using hard drugs. “Not hard drugs,” Sami reiterated.

Other students had differing perspectives on the issue.

When asked if there is a drug problem in Eldred, senior varsity soccer player Jonathan Santoro answered, “Yes. The problem is the use of illegal substances/drugs and students being caught doing it, whether it is by school officials or law enforcement, time and time again.”

Sebastian Schadt, junior and offensive player for the boys varsity soccer team, stated that the problem in Eldred is not drugs, but rather, “people assuming things, not knowing.”

Other students suggested different measures to be put in place for Eldred as a means of compromise, like testing the coaches and staff as well, and stating how the school has a false image.

Members of the boys varsity soccer team were baffled at the notion that Eldred students, particularly athletes, are using hard drugs. “[It’s as] simple as that: we don’t do heroin,” said one player, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Members of the varsity girls soccer team, none of whom wanted to be named, had a similar view. Among other things, the players felt as if the students are being unfairly ridiculed. “It should be more than just the students [being tested]; it should be the teachers, the PTA, the coaches.”

One girl asserted, “There’s nobody doing heroin. It’s a small school; people would hear that. We would know that. We would see that.”

[Melissa McMonagle is a senior at the high school.]