Pubdate: Fri, 04 Feb 2000
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune (LA)
Copyright: 2000 The Times-Picayune
Contact:  (504) 826-3369
Website: http://www.timespicayune.com/
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Author: Sandra Barbier, West Bank bureau
Bookmark: MAP's link to Louisiana articles is: http://www.mapinc.org/states/la

3 SCHOOLS TO START HAIR DRUG TESTS

The West Bank's three Catholic high schools will begin testing all their
students for drugs next year.

Two of the schools, Archbishop Shaw and Immaculata high schools, said the
plan is contingent at least in part on getting money to pay for the testing
from Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick, but an Archbishop
Blenk official said the school will go forward with testing by raising
tuition, if necessary.

Connick said Tuesday he is seeking money to do the tests from private
foundations. He said he has raised about half of what is needed and should
know in about a week if he will receive the rest.

Connick wouldn't say what the total cost of the testing would be. He said
he's also lobbied the area's congressional delegation for money for more
testing in both public and private schools.

Jefferson Parish public schools do not drug-test students except when
students are suspected of using a drug. Testing is done only by law
enforcement authorities with permission from the parents.

Archbishop Blenk High School is in Gretna, and Archbishop Shaw and
Immaculata high schools are in Marrero. Blenk and Immaculata are for girls
and Shaw is for boys.

Blenk Principal David Pooley said the plan began to take shape last year
when Connick proposed the three schools initiate a policy together.

The plan was announced to parents and students Monday. Principals at all
three schools said they plan to test faculty and staff, too.

Plans are to do hair sample tests like those conducted by several other
Catholic high schools in the metropolitan area, Pooley said. Those tests
cost $40 per person, or about $26,000 for the school, he said.

If Connick can't provide complete financing, Blenk will raise the money for
testing through tuition, Pooley said.

Students who test positive for drugs will be required to get counseling and
other help, Pooley said. If a student tests positive a second time, the
student will be asked to leave the school, he said. It is the same policy
followed at other schools that already test.

"Our first reaction will be to get them in a program to help them get off
drugs," Pooley said.

Shaw Principal the Rev. Richard Rosin said his school's plans are the same,
although the extent of testing will depend on financing through Connick.

"If the total amount can't be raised, we will modify the quantity of
testing we need to do," Rosin said. Nevertheless, the school is drafting a
policy to its board calling for testing all students.

"Optimally, we would want to do the entire student body in the first month
of school next year and follow that up with random testing," he said.

Immaculata Principal Sister Rosann Ruiz said her school likely would test
all students in the first year, but would only test new students and a
random selection of returning students in subsequent years.

For Immaculata, however, going forward with testing will depend on getting
money through Connick.

"With mounting costs alone, we wouldn't be able to afford something like
this" without assistance, she said.

All three principals and Connick said their goal is prevention and not
prosecution of students who use drugs.

"This is not for prosecuting drug offenses," Connick said. "This is about
keeping schools safe and drug free." He said the identity of students who
test positive will not be given to authorities. "It stays within each
school," he said.

School officials have two goals, Pooley said: to give students an extra
reason to resist peer pressure and refuse to use drugs, and to provide an
extra impetus to others to get off drugs.

Blenk will send letters detailing the policy to parents before
registration, which will be Feb. 29 and March 1.

That way, "when they come to register, they will know about it." Pooley
said he doesn't expect a drop in admissions. Other schools that have
implemented blanket testing reported "no fallout whatsoever with students
withdrawing," he said.

Rosin said he will announce the plan to parents at a meeting Wednesday.
Small groups of students were presented the idea to get their reaction, he
said. "For the most part, the reaction has been positive."

Shaw has 780 students in grades eight to 12, Blenk has about 600 and
Immaculata has about 500.

Some Blenk students Thursday said they'll go along with testing, but don't
think it is needed.

"I can understand if they suspect somebody, but why everybody?" sophomore
Michelle Hall said. Money spent on testing would be better spent on other
needs, such as the school library, she said.

"I understand for athletes we have to be fit and all," classmate Cindi
Lessard said. "As far as everyone else, it's just a waste of time."

Student Andrea Damico, a sophomore, said her mother won't like having to
pay extra for tests. "It's like, not fair to the rest of us; we spend so
much money as it is," Damico said.

But testing all students would mean Blenk lives up to its claim of being
drug free, Damico said, and some parents said they liked the idea.

"I'm all for it," parent Harry Rios said. "At least it will help the
parents find out if the kids get into it."

"I have no problem with drug testing for government employees, schools or
anybody that uses state money," parent Dianne Oneill said. "The innocent
have no reason to hide," she said.

Grandparent Dave Smith said voluntary testing would be better, but
mandatory testing is all right provided school administrators use it to
help students.

Rosin said the test will detect use of marijuana, cocaine, opiates
including heroin, methamphetamine, called speed, and PCP or "angel dust."
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MAP posted-by: Eric Ernst