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Parents Upset at Smyrna High School's Use of Breathalyzer

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SMYRNA, Del. (AP) - Some parents are raising concerns about a school administering breathalyzer tests to students attending a homecoming dance.

The Wilmington News Journal that some parents were annoyed by the practice at Smyrna High School and even felt it bordered on infringing on students' rights. But parents were most concerned about being unaware of the alcohol breath tests in the first place. 

The Smyrna School superintendent defended the right for the district to continue the long-standing practice because it keeps students safe. It was started in 1994 in response to a Mothers Against Drunk Driving initiative. The superintendent said she'll look for better ways to inform parents about it. Breathalyzers also are administered before prom.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.