ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – The City Council’s disappointment at being rebuffed in its efforts to fund drug testing for students on Pleasure Island became official on Aug. 6

A proposed “resolution of disappointment” received a 6-0 endorsement from the council and Mayor Tony Kennon.

In April Kennon proposed the county reinstate drug tests suspended in 2010 because of funding issues and told the board of education Orange Beach would pay some or all of the testing for students in Gulf Shores High School and Gulf Shores Middle School.

“The City of Orange Beach has formally requested the Baldwin County Board of Education to reinstate mandatory drug testing in the feeder pattern of Gulf Shores High School, Gulf Shores Middle School and servicing of Orange Beach Elementary,” the resolution states.

By law public schools can only test students who are involved in extracurricular activities, who drive to school or whose parents sign them up are eligible to be tested. Baldwin County was spending $180,000 annually on the screenings before the budget cuts of 2010.

On July 18 the county board proposed a new drug testing policy based on a voluntary program. In that program parents would sign students up for and pay for the testing. Any student signed up by a parent could be tested.

Kennon and council members want a testing policy with more teeth.

The resolution further states “The Baldwin County Board of Education elected not to accept the City of Orange Beach offer of funding and chose to determine its path of moving forward without open public debate on the matter with city representatives, parents or community, ultimately leading to a Board of Education recommendation to offer voluntary drug testing to be paid by the parents in the countywide system of students.”

The resolution also supported testing of hair for drugs because it provides results from a longer period of time.

It “recommended hair testing as a mechanism to identify more types of illegal drugs with a longer identification period all the while giving students an effective way to “say NO to drugs….and still be cool.”

Kennon believes that drug testing will pay for itself by making schools better and safer.

“The investment toward mandatory drug testing has a direct return on investment while protecting the investment of tax payer dollars and creating a classroom conducive to learning and a pleasant place for teachers to educate,” he said.

The county board’s next work session is tonight. The next time they can vote on the new proposal is Thursday’s regular session.