Education

Minn. High School Requires Entire Senior Class to Take Breathalyzer Before Graduating

Alec Welp and 73 of his classmates gathered for their high school graduation rehearsal in St. Charles, Minn. on Friday to prepare for their greatest academic achievement to date.

But before they could practice walking across that stage and imagine receiving that coveted diploma, their excitement was crushed after Alec and his classmates were forced to take a breathalyzer test by St. Charles High School administrators.

Now some parents are considering suing the school system for what they see as a violation of their children’s rights.

St. Charles High School Forces Senior Class to Take Breathalyzer Before Graduation

St. Charles High School parent Jim Welp. (Source: WCCO)

Jim Welp, Alec’s father, told WCCO-TV in Minnesota he was shocked when his son informed him on Friday morning that he would be given a breathalyzer at school. He argued that students are entitled to all the protections granted under the U.S. Constitution and school officials didn’t respect that.

“When he said that right away I knew, they can’t do that,” Welp said. ”It has nothing to do with the kids drinking or any of that. It has to do with the constitution.”

His son tested negative for alcohol.

WCCO has more on the story:

Welp immediately drove to the school to question administrators about their authority to administer breathalyzers.

“They said they did, I said you don’t, I said you have to have probable cause,” he said.

Faculty told Welp and other parents they had smelled alcohol on some of the students.

“I said you can’t test them all because some of the students have alcohol,” he said.

Superintendent Mark Roubinek says teachers told the principal they observed unusual behavior by a group of 20 or more students.

He says administration feared several of those students would be driving after rehearsal was over.

“It was a bad situation, it would’ve been a terrible situation if some kids would’ve gotten hurt or killed,” said Roubinek.

NBC affiliate KTTC-TV reports that students said they felt “forced” into the situation and were told they would not be able to participate in the commencement ceremony if they refused to take a breathalyzer. Students were not read their rights.

“It felt like we had to go along with it,” Carter Swenson told KTTC. “I‘ve been told that if you’re 18 you can reject the breathalyzer, and we’re all 18, so I had no idea you can do that, so I went in there and took it, but I felt like it was forced.”

Officers from Olmsted County, the Department of Natural Resources and the state patrol all responded to the situation and were present at the high school, according to the station.

School policy states when kids appear intoxicated on school property, the police are called. But Roubinek told WCCO that they decided to “move on to the next stage” – testing the entire graduating class.

Students admitted that there was a party held the previous night in which alcohol was present and the school’s suspicions were confirmed after a number of students tested positive for alcohol. Officials didn’t release an exact number but they said it was in the double digits.

But that has seemingly done little to satisfy parents as several of them are planning to attend the school board‘s meeting on June 11 to express their dissatisfaction with the school’s handling of the situation.

“As parents in St. Charles, we just want to make sure that people do realize that we do not condone underage drinking, and the kids that were drinking were wrong,” mother Jean Johnston told KTTC, “but we also do not agree with the situation that occurred here today.”

WCCO reports that the graduation was Sunday and all students walked – including those who tested positive. Those students did receive some form of punishment, Roubinek said.

Attempts by The Blaze to contact officials at St. Charles High School were unsuccessful.

Watch more from KTTC’s report and some comments from students here:

Comments (75)

1 2
  • hauschild
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:39pm

    The land of 10,000 mistakes certainly loves their communism.

    Report Post »  
    • Sirfoldallot
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:52pm

      Those kids will say , what about r rights ? I heard that this was once a free nation, so what happen ?

      Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
    • TheLeftMadeMeRight
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 4:31pm

      Thats ok, it’s life experiences such as this one that make for life long conservatives…

      Report Post » TheLeftMadeMeRight  
    • woodyb
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:19pm

      I smell a terrifically LARGE lawsuit –

      so “Superintendent Mark Roubinek says teachers told the principal they observed unusual behavior by a group of 20 or more students.”

      These are a bunch of teenagers who have NEVER graduated from HS before, so what can be ‘unusual’ about their behavior if the event had never taken place before????????? What constitutes “unusual‘ behavior and what constitutes ’usual’ behavior???????????

      Report Post »  
    • DoubleThrowDown
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 7:04pm

      When I graduated HS 15 yrs ago I think my parents partied harder than I did (school was not my favorite thing at the time). Not sure the size of the graduating class but I was shocked to hear that there were on double digits, if they gave me a breathalyzer back then I would of failed for sure. They are kids and they will make mistakes and they hopefully will learn from them.

      Report Post »  
  • Bill Wallace
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:37pm

    Sue. Teach the nazi’s a lesson.

    And by “nazi” I mean those people who think their age or position somehow gives them god-like powers to do whatever they want.

    Report Post »  
  • Owt_Raged
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:37pm

    First the Patriot act (an oxymoron) then the TSA, now you force children to take a test which can normally only be performed by LE.

    If the students and the parents tolerate this type of action from the school, they doom us all.

    Report Post » Owt_Raged  
    • Wolf
      Posted on June 6, 2012 at 1:40am

      I can tell you a really long story about cops and students and children being strip searched and drug tests being administered by police and school officials without parental consent, but you’d never believe what went on. Just get used to it ‘cuz this is only the beginnning, espeially in MN.

      Report Post »  
  • frust@ted
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:33pm

    So the school just happend to have enough breathlyzers on campus to test all of the students? That seems like an unlikely story. This sounds more like the school planned to test all of the students based off of previous years where students had been drinking. Once there was some outrage by parents they had to come out and say that they did it because they smelled booze on some students breath not that it was preplanned. Again why would the school cary so many breathalyzers?

    Report Post »  
  • countryfirst
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:32pm

    While in my senior year and after hrs the vice principle was asking to speak to me, I told him to keep it short since I needed to get to work. And while walking to a gym door to leave he stated that he was going to hold me up for a while. I then told him he has 15 seconds till I get to the door. The next day I was given a 2 day in school suspension for the use of an improper exit.

    I never went to the suspension and went to work instead of the graduation ceremony. Some school employ’s are just power hungry, and if worked in the private sector with men and not boys would get there A$$ handed to them.

    Report Post » countryfirst  
  • frust@ted
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:25pm

    donaldchar,

    if i as to ask you for your IP address and network access to your computer right now so I can search it for illegal downloads would you give me access? You should have nothing to hide right, and if not why?

    Report Post »  
    • donaldchar
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 3:07pm

      We don’t meant to egg on Pandora. This is simply a matter where nobody gets hurt and shouldn’t take offense. Lots of test are taken in schools. This one alleviates the school, and thereby their supporting public, from undesirable (embarrassing staggering on-stage) and possibly horrible (vehicular homicide) consequences. On-stage participation should be limited to those are obviously cogent or who pass the innocent little test. This is a molehill, and the school officials are being responsible, trying to prevent future problems. Instead of taking offense, take the test and see the grateful smile on the tester’s face. If you fail, we’ll ask your parents to drive you home and your diploma will be in the mail. This can be the end of story. It doesn’t necessarily lead anywhere else.

      Report Post »  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 4:09pm

      donaldchar,

      nobody will get hurt if I search your computer, so will you submit your computer for me to search through? When I’m done with my test you can have your computer back, nothing to hide right?

      We should not have to prove our innocence when there is no sign of us doing anything wrong.

      Report Post »  
  • right-wing-waco
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:05pm

    Nudge, nudge. Those that forced the students to blow the balloon should all be fired and sued for violation of rights. No matter if they suspected alcohol. Call the parents or the police, but, the school is NOT the police and are not qualified to act as such.

    I’m not for young people being drunk but “WE”, (most of us), have turned our backs for over 100 years while we allowed the government to run wild and do whatever they wanted. It’s time to put our foot down and demand that government follow the laws.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:22pm

      It is more FASCISM… and it is spreading!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • sasquatch08
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:01pm

    DONALDCHAR:

    No one is defending drinking and driving. Even the cops can’t breathalyze you for no reason, so how is it that school officials can? “That guy over there smells like booze” is not a valid reason to breathalyze someone else.

    This sounds like something the Stasi would have done. Guilt by association is wrong. Period.

    Report Post »  
  • SerikFox
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:58pm

    Also if you’re old enough to fight in the army at 18, then you should be old enough to drink at 18.

    Report Post »  
  • SerikFox
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:57pm

    What law prevents the school from having this authority? A breathalyzer test isn’t exactly invasive. The school didn‘t say they couldn’t receive a diploma if they didn’t comply, just that they wouldn’t be in the ceremony. You have to have a physical to participate in sports – is that a violation of rights too? Requiring a test or an examination for participation in a voluntary event is not a violation of rights. Were it a mandatory event it would be different – but it’s not.

    Report Post »  
    • right-wing-waco
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:09pm

      Perhaps you should be given a drug test before being “allowed” to post on a blog. How much “power” an “authority” do you want to give the government? Are you a free citizen or do you belong to the State? I guess the choice is yours.

      Report Post »  
    • OniKaze
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:15pm

      Physicals for sports play, is for the safety of that individual. It is to judge as to whether or not the person is in the proper physical condition to play the sport without risk of health issues getting worse due to the action of playing the sport.

      This IS different…

      I am not saying its right or wrong, but sports physicals, and forced breathalysers are not in the same ballpark.

      I can understand the schools concern, but they should have contacted the parents FIRST, then breathalysed the students whose parents gave approval.

      Report Post » OniKaze  
    • armyofnibiru
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 3:24pm

      its called the VI amendment ,while they had probable cuase for those who smelled like alcohol ,guilty until proven innocent was not the founders intent.they were 18 yrs old so parents can no longer give permission to violate their rights.besides if you can go into the military ,get your limbs blown off or worse than your old enough to drink a beer.or your not old enough to enter the military change that to 21.

      Report Post »  
  • frust@ted
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:52pm

    I’ve said it a thousand times you want to see facisim at work go to a high school. So many of the theses Teachers and Administrators are Tyrants, they feel they are completly above the law and have been given some sort of right to act as police officers.

    Imagine if instead of this school testing BAC level they were checking to make sure that all graduates are legal citizens. Oh the media frenzy that would have insued.

    Report Post »  
    • donaldchar
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:14pm

      I don’t understand you people who denigrate American citizenship. Why NOT check for legal status? If everybody within our borders is either “citizen” or “illegal” (that is, superior to a citizen, with far more rights and privileges than a citizen), what’s the problem? On the other hand, if everyone worldwide is an American citizen, then GW Bush has his way and citizenship means nothing, it has no value. And apparently we’re overseas fighting for nothing.

      Report Post »  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:22pm

      Donaldchar,

      I made no reference to what I thought about checking for citizenship in my comment, my intention is to show how 2 things that are very similar are portrayed differently in the media.

      Report Post »  
    • donaldchar
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 3:29pm

      Frost@ted, we stand corrected, thanks. You’re right, many are tyrants. Some policemen too. Do you agree that the teachers and administrators are now pretty much controlled, no longer by We the People, but by the labor unions and seemingly unaccountable government despots? A part of our national malaise is that we no longer have any confidence in our regulating laws – we don’t know what they mean. Many who are conscientious law-abiders are informed that they’ve broken a law they thought they were in submission to, and are both heartbroken (for failing to be good examples to their children) and exasperated, (being told that some judge now says that the law no longer means what it says).

      Report Post »  
  • SOUNDTHETRUMPET
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:47pm

    St Charles Saints. HMMMMMMM I am surprised that school name is allowed on a government communist run school. Sure in due time it will be renamed

    Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:45pm

    Do they have wannabe TSA Nazis strip search the kids as well? We can’t be too safe now,clearly more laws and regulations are in order to ‘protect’ us.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • lstoddard004
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:42pm

    How about giving the breathalyzer test to the faculty members – dumb drunk move? Oh, that’s right, they are Union. They are excluded from what they submit onto younger teenagers.

    Report Post »  
  • spfoam1
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:28pm

    Stripping away rights in the name of safety again. .

    Report Post »  
    • donaldchar
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:45pm

      These are not rights – they are responsibilities! NObody has the right to DUI and kill your family or mine! These authorities are being responsible and need our backing. Some parents are defending boozing and driving with impunity. No wonder so many children are such; the fruit doesn’t fall far from their trees.

      Report Post »  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:58pm

      donaldchar, this had nothing to do with DUI’s it had to do with walking across a stage. These parents are teaching their kids that drinking is ok they are teaching them to stand up to authority when they abuse their power.

      Also it is not the Teachers responsibility to Protect and Serve that is the responsibility of the police. I feel that you are letting your emotions on drinking and driving get in the way of coming to a logical conclusion on why what the teachers did is right or wrong.

      Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:01pm

      um no. even if we did tests in our cars every person with no cause the drunks would find ways around and still be on the road killing others. they do it, have their kids blow on the machine that starts the ignition for their cars. they are stripping our rights away one by one making all criminals for our safety of course and I will not condone it.

      Report Post »  
    • spfoam1
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:05pm

      By your logic the police can test you for anything at any time and justify it by saying that you might have been under the influence because there were some other people on this road that we suspected were under the influence. How about dropping those britches for a rubber glove test to see if you might have a weapon or drugs up your arse, because some other people at some time or another were suspected of that. You might have drugs in your house, so lets kick the door in and rip the walls apart to make sure, because some other people were suspected of the same thing. You are the gestapo. Where does it stop?

      Report Post »  
  • donaldchar
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:28pm

    Buncha whiners. Take the test – nothing gained, nothing lost and, in some cases, perhaps lives saved. Stoopid parents protesting a good thing that hurts nobody and might help several. So much time on their hands that they protest, trying to make a mountain out of a molehill! Miserable whiners! If any of you have jobs, get back to work!

    Report Post »  
    • fancynancy
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:36pm

      You are wrong. Even police need reasonable cause to force Breathalyzer tests. The school could not determine which kids may have consumed alcohol but that gives them no power to test everyone. It’s a violation of privacy that is due to everyone.

      Report Post »  
    • PRESENTSOFMIND
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:52pm

      The 4th amendment, Donny boy, an unreasonable search is what this is All about, idiot.

      Report Post » PRESENTSOFMIND  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:00pm

      donaldchar,

      would you have the same nothing gained nothing lost mentality if the city decided that they need to come in to your home and verify that you are properly recycling? This could be a good thing?

      Report Post »  
    • donaldchar
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:05pm

      Thanks, Nancy, for the legal perspective. But it’s the state of our current legal system that has provided our beautiful countryside panoramas with huge numbers of extra tombstones. While I’m no legal expert, it would seem good to have each student sign a statement affirming that they are not intoxicated, and if they go out driving after graduation and kill someone, are found to be DWI, they hereby give up all rights to trial and agree to spend life in prison for perjury and manslaughter. Law without enforcement is merely advice. You seem confused about public / private. Did you perhaps acquire English as a second language? You see, what we do in public, out in society, with witnesses, by definition is a public, not a private act. Preventing vehicular homicide due to DWI is actually a good thing, and a thing which past generations gladly promoted. And all of American society was better off for it. Wouldn’t YOU rather freely enjoy a friendship rather than have a strained relationship from a hospital bed because the foreseen problem was only dealt with by crossed fingers? If these students have good parental training at home, they’ll volunteer to take the test, unless they have something to hide. It’s feathers in their caps if they pass, yes?

      Report Post »  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:19pm

      donaldchar,

      no need to get on Nancy about english as a second language because she has a different definition of privacy. What is considered privacy has been an argument that has been ongoing for years. Again I am not speaking to DUI’s. I am looking at this from the standpoint of
      1)Do Teachers have the authority to administor a breathalyzer. I say they don’t, I think that is a responsibility that should be left in the hands of law enforcement
      2)Should all citizens have to subject themselves to testing and prove that they have done nothing wrong because a few have. Again I say no and I belive that the fourth amendment protects us against these types of searches.

      donaldchar, please try to stick to these two issues and avoid the discussion on DUI because it has little to do with this article, which does not mention DUI in it.

      Report Post »  
    • hauschild
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:43pm

      Doesn’t matter who it “might” help – it’s unconstitutional. This is the thing you central-planners cannot seem to come to grips with. Or, you feel the constitution is irrelevant, meant to be disobeyed by any new generation that thinks “they know better”.

      It’s the same old song and dance over and over and over again, but you people are too obtuse to see it.

      Report Post »  
    • armyofnibiru
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 3:58pm

      yes i remember who else said if you got nothing hide you dont have to worry,karl marx ,moa,stalin,hitler.stick to the constitution and we’ll be alright .hay have you ever driven on the roads.stupidity should be illegal to.they should stop everyone on the road and give them a menza test.ive seen so many accidents that were stupidity not dui.he who would give up freedom for securety,gets niether and deserves niether.even the founders knew this ceturies(hundreds)of years ago.

      Report Post »  
  • namron019
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:26pm

    Should these officials need to take a breathalyzer before they can preform county business? Like voting on ordinances that strip your constitutional rights.

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:25pm

    I don’t care who the school authorites think they are or who they think they are protecting, this was wrong.
    We have now gone from presumed innocent to presumed guilty in this country.

    Report Post »  
  • ZAP
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:20pm

    SUE um

    Report Post » ZAP  
  • bpodlesnik
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:19pm

    Oh boo hoo, you had to take a breathalyzer test at school, so you called your daddy to complain. Don’t drink alcohol underage and you have nothing to worry about.

    Report Post » bpodlesnik  
    • fancynancy
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:32pm

      Your attitude is exactly wrong. This has nothing with underage alcohol or whining to daddy. It is about privacy and the law. Since school could not identify the kids that may have had alcohol they can;t test everyone. Even police have to have reasonable cause to force alcohol testing on someone. I bet you like the TSA too. After all, what’s a little privacy invasion if it keeps us safe. You are part of our problem.

      Report Post »  
    • Docrow
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:36pm

      What comes next might affect you.

      Report Post » Docrow  
    • vanman4446
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:53pm

      You missed the point. Even the kids that didn’t drink were forced to take the test. Communism is alive and well in the US.

      Report Post »  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:08pm

      bpodlenik,

      Not sure if you are but lets say you are underage, If I were to walk up to you in a mall and demand that you take a breathalyzer would you have the same mentality of don’t do something wrong and you have nothing to worry about. If you would have a problem my next question is why do you allow Teachers\Administrators the right to act as Police Officers and not me? If you say it’s because they are an offical of the school, would you allow a state senator to demand a breathalyzer from you on a state park?

      Report Post »  
  • bassist237
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:16pm

    I don’t know.. but just imaging if there had been an accident the suits that would have followed knowing the administration knew but did nothing… If you got nothing to hide, whats the difference.

    Report Post » bassist237  
    • bpodlesnik
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:28pm

      Exactly, could you imagine the blame the school would get if they did nothing and an accident happened. And now that they did something they are still getting the blame. Parents should be thankful the kids didn’t wreck and kill themselves, or someone else.

      Report Post » bpodlesnik  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:30pm

      The proper response for the school would have been to contact the police and have them do it.

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:14pm

    All this does is promote the smoking of pot prior to graduation instead.

    Kids should get a bottle of scotch along with their diplomas. After surviving 12 years of left-wing indoctrination, pseudo-history and gender roles in literature; I can think of no better means of celebration than getting absolutely blotto.

    Report Post » MrButcher  
  • CatB
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:13pm

    LOL .. glad they didn‘t do that in the 1970’s .. when drinking age was 18.

    “WCCO reports that the graduation was Sunday and all students walked – including those who tested positive. Those students did receive some form of punishment, ”

    So what did they do to these “students’ ? , if they withheld my kids diploma which they have EARNED .. I would be one mad taxpaying citizen!

    Report Post »  
    • bpodlesnik
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:24pm

      The only thing you should be mad about is your kid drinking underage. Guarantee if my kid tested positive in an alcohol test before graduation, he/she is going to fear my punishment a lot more than the schools.

      Report Post » bpodlesnik  
    • circleDwagons
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 4:18pm

      i would be upset with my child if he went along with the test.

      Report Post » circleDwagons  
  • AmazingGrace8
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:12pm

    I am listening to Rush right now and I am going to use a word he is using over & over about what is going on in this nation: B R E A T H – T A K I N G.
    Wake up America!

    Report Post »  
  • C-Delta Conductor
    Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:11pm

    Bravo to the most liberal state in the Union.

    The problem is, when kids enter a public school they lose virtually all of their rights under the Constitution based on a set of horrible SCOTUS cases.

    WE NEED SCHOOL CHOICE

    Report Post » C-Delta Conductor  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:34pm

      We don’t even have a choice of Presidental candidates. The politicians choose for you.

      Report Post »  
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