Pubdate: Sun, 18 Aug 2002
Source: Joplin Globe, The (MO)
Copyright: 2002 The Joplin Globe
Contact:  http://www.joplinglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/859
Author: Roger McKinney

STUDENT DRUG TESTING GAINS SUPPORT

Columbus Schools' Policy Receives Favor Of Parents, Court

COLUMBUS, Kan. - Ken Jones may have breathed a sigh of relief in June when 
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that drug testing for students in 
extracurricular activities doesn't violate any Constitutional freedoms.

Jones is superintendent of the Columbus School District, which has 
performed random drug testing on students for the past two years. The 
policy covers students in grades seven through 12 who participate in any 
extracurricular activity, even school dances.

"We had a long discussion with the board about a year ago, when the 10th 
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the policies," Jones said. "We 
realized if we were to continue the policy, it could be an issue we would 
not win, if challenged in court. When the Supreme Court did rule, it was a 
big relief to all of us."

As the district prepares to start drug testing for the third year, the 
board made minor changes to it recently, setting a deadline of Sept. 1 for 
students to return their consent forms.

The Columbus policy may be the most extensive in the area. Jones said 
because every student who volunteers to participate in any extracurricular 
activity must consent to the drug test, almost every student is included in 
the testing pool.

Nearly every week, the names of three to five students are randomly 
selected for testing at the high school and at the junior high school.

The urine tests determine whether students are using a number of illegal 
drugs or alcohol, but not performance-enhancing drugs or steroids.

"The issue with steroids is the cost," Jones said. "It is substantially 
more expensive to test for those. We have not had any indication of steroid 
use."

Jones said the urine tests also may not be effective in determining alcohol 
use, because alcohol leaves the body more quickly than other drugs.

Staff from St. John's Maude Norton Memorial Hospital in Columbus administer 
the tests, and the samples are tested at St. John's Regional Medical Center 
in Joplin.

Jones said the hospital staffers are very discreet. He often doesn't know 
when they have conducted the tests, he said.

The policy states that the specimen be collected in a restroom in a closed 
stall, with a laboratory employee or school employee of the same gender 
outside the stall "to listen for the normal sounds of urination in order to 
guard against tampered specimens and to ensure accurate chain of custody."

The policy also states that the monitor should verify the warmth and 
appearance of the sample.

If a sample tests positive, a second test of the sample is conducted. Only 
if the second test is positive is the result reported to the parents, the 
school principal and the sports coach or activity sponsor.

The policy calls for the principal to conduct a conference with the 
student, parents and the coach or sponsor to solicit an explanation of the 
positive result. The student is allowed to present evidence that the 
positive was caused by something other than alcohol or drug use, but the 
policy states that the school district will rely on the opinion of the drug 
laboratory.

A first offense results in suspension from athletic and extracurricular 
activities for two weeks. The suspension includes all games, competitions, 
practices and meetings. A second offense results in suspension for 18 
weeks. A third offense results in a permanent ban from all activities for 
the rest of the student's school career. A student may come forward to 
admit drug or alcohol use without punishment, but the district will 
consider the student to have committed a first offense. School officials 
will recommend treatment programs.

Jones said the cost to the district is about $22 a test, or around $6,000 
per year. The district tests about 250 students during the school year, but 
Jones said because the tests are random, a student may be tested more than 
once.

Jones said when the policy began, a parent of an eighth-grade student chose 
not to allow her child to participate in activities because she opposed the 
policy. The policy allows that action.

Other than that example, he said parents seem to support the policy.

Parents reached for this report tend to agree.

Mike Bowman's son is a high school junior involved in sports.

"It is definitely a problem in the school system," Bowman said. "Not just 
in the school, but in society today."

Bowman said his son hasn't been tested, but he has been in class when 
friends received the call to submit their samples.

He said he was surprised to discover how many students the policy covered.

"I think it's good," Bowman said. "We should do a little more of it."

Mike Ellis said his son was tested when he was a freshman. He is a junior 
now. He said his son didn't mention being embarrassed, but that his friends 
were aware he had been tested.

"It wasn't a bad experience, and of course he tested negative," Ellis said.

Ellis began by saying he was "wishy-washy" on the policy, before expressing 
support.

"I think it's a good thing," Ellis said. "It's a major deterrent. I'm glad 
they do it, and it's probably a positive influence on the kids."

Ron Holmes said one or both of his children have been tested under the policy.

"I think the drug-free school makes for better learning and a better 
atmosphere for the students," Holmes said. "It maybe helps deter some 
students from being on drugs."

High school Principal Steve Jameson and junior high Principal Bobbi Thomas 
say the policy gives students another excuse not to use drugs or alcohol.

"I believe this policy has helped our students in giving them an option to 
say no to drugs," Jameson said. "It gives us a way to help them."

Jameson said five or six students at the high school have tested positive 
in the past two years. Thomas said she is unaware of any junior high pupils 
ever testing positive.

"I think there was a perception in the community we had a real drug 
problem," Thomas said. "That perception has been dismissed."

She said many parents have told her they are in full support of the policy.

"Parents are grateful," she said. "It helps them as parents as well."

Jones said based on the small number of positive results, he thinks the 
policy is working as a deterrent, or the tests are not being administered 
to the right students.

With two years of experience behind Columbus, other schools may look to the 
district as they develop their own drug testing policies.

Tim Burns, Baxter Springs superintendent, said such a policy is in the 
"talking stage" in his district. He said the Supreme Court ruling in June 
opened the door for the district to consider a policy.

"I think our coaches and administration would like us to investigate that," 
Burns said.

He said board members have copies of the Columbus policy, and it is likely 
that if Baxter Springs pursues its own policy it will include elements of 
the Columbus policy.

Jones said other districts also have consulted with him.

Thomas said she thinks the policy would benefit all area school districts.

"I know there are several districts looking into the policy," she said. "I 
think it's a great preventative method. If we're worried about the safety 
of our students, this is a way we can protect them."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens