Breath test part of ticket to Louise Prom Saturday
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

Louise juniors and seniors will have an additional step when they glide through the door in their gowns and tuxedos for their prom Saturday night.

"We're going to have drug dogs and for any students who want to come to the prom, we're going to have breathalyzer tests," Louise ISD Superintendent Andy Peters said Monday. "We'll be sending home a letter to parents about this on Wednesday."

Peters said the decision to screen for drugs, including alcohol - which will cost the district less than $500 - is not based on any current diffi- culty, but rather over issues with a couple of problem students.

"We've never had a real problem with the prom, but I'm tired of kids dying in Wharton County, and other sources don't have it under control, so I'm telling the kids to be ready to blow in the breathalyzer, before we lock them in," he said. "It's time to step it up and take a stand and say we don't want them under the influence at the prom, or at school. We're going to make it uncomfortable for those problem students."

He said the reaction to the announcement from students has been positive.

"Every kid I talked to today - and I talked to a bunch of them - they think it's great," Peters said. "It takes 15 seconds, they breathe in and move on, and when they leave us, they can drive safely to wherever they're headed. The kids are all glad. That's impressed me about the quality of our kids. "

Once a student enters the dance at 8 p.m. in the high school gym and pass the breathalyzer test, they will not be allowed to leave the building until 11 p.m., when the prom ends.

Anyone who fails the breathalyzer test faces dual punishment: They won't be able to attend the prom, and they'll spend 10 days in alternative school, Peters said.

"The sad thing is, we really haven't had a problem here, but it's just a message," Peters said. "We don't have a problem, but we don't want one to start."

Rich DuBroc, principal at El Campo High School, said he's never done such testing before a prom in his career in education. DuBroc is in his first year as principal at the school.

"I'm not totally opposed to it, it's just not something I've ever done before and we're not set up for this year," he said.

A sheriff's deputy will administer the alcohol test at the Louise prom, and DuBroc noted there's a minimum of two uniformed police officers at El Campo proms.

DuBroc chuckled as he noted this year's ECHS prom, set for May 17, will be the first prom he's attended since his senior prom here in 1989.

"I don't have any real opposition to it, I just haven't ever done it," he said. "I have nothing negative to say about that, and if I believed it was necessary, I would do that."