Following Redmond High's Example, Kirkland School Plans to Test All Prom Attendees for Alcohol

Editor's note: Redmond Patch has posted a new story that contains updated information on the school district's alcohol testing policy. Click to read that story.

Before students can hit the dance floor with their dates at the prom June 4, they’ll have to pass a test to determine if they’ve been drinking, the school has informed parents.

Drinking at dances this year has been such an issue that principal Christina Thomas decided to require all students be tested before entering the prom, following the example of , which tests all students at all after-school events such as dances, football and basketball games.

Not all students and parents are happy about the idea. And a civil liberties activist said the testing would be a likely violation of constitutional rights.

“We have had a call this morning from a parent who was really unhappy about it,” said Kathryn Reith, spokesperson for the Lake Washington School District. “One student was concerned enough about it that they emailed the Seattle Times.”

At the same time, Reith said Thomas has also heard from students who welcome the testing.

“Obviously, most kids at Lake Washington are just fine,” Reith said. “But you always have a minority doing things that perhaps are not the best things to be doing. This year they’ve had problems with students coming to dances already having consumed alcohol.”

Reith said Thomas, new at Lake Washington High School this school year, had earlier sent a survey to parents about several issues.

“Parents did express concern about this," Reith said.

Previously, only students who showed obvious signs of having consumed alcohol before school events would be tested.

“That level clearly was not enough of a deterrence at Lake Washington this year,” Reith said.

Students will probably be given a test using a “passive alcohol sensor.” It looks something like a flashlight and is held near the student while they are asked to say “hello.”

The device lights up if it detects booze.

“It’s not a big invasive thing,” Reith said.

The device has been used for five years before Redmond High School events.

However, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union said Tuesday the policy is an apparent violation of the state constitution.

"They certainly can test students," said Doug Honig of the ACLU of Washington in Seattle. "But it has to be based on a reasonable suspicion they've been using alcohol."

He said two decisions by the Washington State Supreme Court were analogous to the situation. In 1985, a Renton school wanted to search school band members' luggage before a trip to perform in Washington, D.C. More recently, schools in Wahkiakum County decided to test students for drugs before they could join school teams.

"In both cases the court ruled that you can't do blanket searches," Honig said. "Even though it's for laudable purposes, it didn't give the school the right to search the kids."

A representative of the ACLU discussed the issue with a school district administrator on Tuesday, Honig added. "At this point, we're hoping they will reconsider," he said.

It does not matter that the Redmond High staff has been testing kids for five years, he said. "The fact that one school is violating students' rights does not give you the right to do that."

However, Reith said school district lawyers are confident the testing is legal.

“Our lawyers are double-checking that, but at this point they believe it is legal,” she said. “The students have prior notice. There is no search. It is not a required activity.”

Reith said the district’s prime concern is the health and safety of students attending the prom, which is at the Bellevue Hilton hotel.

“We have a strict no-alcohol policy,” she noted.

Those caught violating the policy receive an automatic 45-day suspension, which can be reduced to 10 days if the student agrees to a drug and alcohol assessment.

“We want to make sure that if there is a serious issue, the student gets treatment,” Reith said.