In the wake of alleged drug and alcohol use among a number of student athletes, a parent in the Warren County R-III School District has asked school board members to implement random drug testing for all high school students. Parent John Bradshaw delivered a heartfelt speech to the school board and audience members during last Thursday's school board meeting on what he described as a prevalent issue in Warrenton High School with students' alleged use of drugs and alcohol. Bradshaw said he wanted to address those in attendance as a concerned parent and sway the school board to immediately enforce random drug testing of all students. "I've always been a good parent, but two weeks ago I got slapped in the face," he said. "My two boys, they both tried drugs. I wanted to tear my house up." Bradshaw asked his sons how they had come in contact with the drugs. "It's my job," he said. "It's my role to take a stand. I made my sons tell me names and there are a lot of kids who I know - who I've coached. We better wake up." Bradshaw said he believes the main cause of students' alleged drug and alcohol use stems from a student group within the school. The group, he said, requires its members to engage in a host of illegal and illicit activities. "You don't even want to know what the criteria is to be involved in this group," Bradshaw said. "It's embarrassing. "And now, students are being subjected to torment because they're not doing drugs," he added. Bradshaw said his daughter Abby Job collected 59 signatures from students who vowed to take a stand against drugs. Many of those students and their parents were present at the meeting. The high school's current enrollment is 916. Bradshaw proposed random drug testing for all high school students to ensure that the testing would not target specific individuals. "As families, fathers, mothers and a school we have to stand up," he said. "Drug testing brings fear to students and they don't have fear right now. "My wife says kids don't need more friends - they need parents," Bradshaw added. To implement drug testing, however, will force the district to make a financial commitment. Board members said funding would have to be considered and that a policy regarding drug testing would have to be drafted. The Francis Howell School District in St. Charles began random drug testing in 2006, which cost it approximately $22,000 over three years of testing, according to Bradshaw. School Board President Teresa Scott said the idea needs to be reviewed by the district's discipline committee for further discussion. "(Bradshaw) gave us information, but I think there's a lot more information out there," she told The Record. "I'm not ready to take a stand at this point. I don't think we have all the information we need to address this issue." Scott said the committee may present its findings at the December school board meeting. "Whether they have a resolution or more questions at that point, I don't know," she said. "I would certainly hope that the discipline committee would look at (drug testing alternatives). I would assume that other districts who have drug testing have tried other things first. I certainly hope they explore all avenues that are available." Scott said she is curious as to how drug testing affected other districts. "I'd like to see the impact that (drug testing) has on education, attendance and activities," she said. "Did attendance increase or decrease? Did academic achievement or ACT scores increase or decrease? Are there more or less kids coming out for sports? "Until we have answers, we can't make an informed decision," Scott added. Scott and board member Jan Sutherland, who represents the school board on the district's discipline committee. along with board member Beth Banze, said they know drugs are being used. "There are aspects of (Bradshaw's) presentation that I find surprising, but the fact that there's drug use doesn't shock me," Scott said. Sutherland said she wants to take action against drug use. "I've known for years that it's coming to this point," she said. "I would like to see (drug testing) for January 2012, but it's going to be hard to get it done in six weeks." Bradshaw was adamant that a decision to allow drug testing be made during Thursday's meeting. "We're already talking our way out of it," he said. "It's time to do something. This is not something we can wait on because it's going on now. If we would have had drug testing last year, we wouldn't have been able to field a football team at state. "We need to raise the standards of our kids and expect more of our kids," Bradshaw added. Superintendent Dr. Tom Muzzey said the district is investigating the alleged drug and alcohol use, but until there is proof, a conclusion cannot be reached. "Any conclusion we would draw is based more on speculation than fact," he said. "We won't know without testing procedures and the proper protocol in place. It's important that we bring this issue to the forefront of the discussion for the safety of our kids. "It's speculation," Muzzey added. "I don't know enough about it to really say anything. I like to make decisions based on firsthand information." The next scheduled school board meeting is Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school library.