Pubdate: Fri, 11 Oct 2002
Source: Lake City Reporter (FL)
Copyright: 2002sLake City Reporter
Contact:  http://www.lakecityreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1712
Author: Tony Britt

NEW ISSUES SURFACE WITH DRUG POLICY

Cost of Mandated Counseling Not Taken into Consideration

The cost of counseling has become an issue in light of Tuesday's passage of 
a policy that calls for the random drug testing of students who participate 
in extracurricular activities and drive on campus.

The cost of counseling was not taken into consideration before the Columbia 
County School Board voted 4-1 to adopt the policy which takes effect July 1.

According to the policy, students in grades six-12 who test positive on a 
random drug test must enter a counseling program and take another test that 
yields negative results before resuming extracurricular activities. Also 
according to the policy, the student and/or the family will be responsible 
for the costs relating to six weeks of counseling.

The first positive test calls for a student to enroll in a Florida licensed 
substance abuse program within five working days and the student must be 
attend sessions for six weeks, with attendance required at least once a week.

During the meeting varying amounts were given for the sessions. Some said 
the sessions would be around the $100 per-session range.

Glenn Hunter, school board chairman, said the school system's Drug-Free 
School Random Drug Testing Committee will meet again to discuss new issues 
and concerns regarding the policy, including the counseling and its costs.

"The committee has decided they would meet again and work to revamp the 
issues brought on by both sides because they want to do the best job they 
possibly can," Hunter said.

The costs associated with counseling became an issue with both supporters 
and opponents.

Hunter said the costs also were a concern for board members and everyone 
involved. He said they have time to work out the bugs since the policy 
doesn't take effect until July.

"Our goal is to make sure we do everything to provide good, quality 
counseling for students," Hunter said. "We will give this (student random 
drug testing policy) a try and do the best we can. Our goal is to save as 
many children and families as possible and we will do whatever is humanly 
possible."

Hunter said information from the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey as 
well as surveys of local students showed there was a need to implement the 
policy in Columbia County.

Harvey Campbell, a school board member, said he wasn't 100 percent 
comfortable with the policy because of the basic fairness issue created by 
starting the program in mid-year since some kids would have been covered 
and others would not.

He also said he had concerns about counseling costs that could be 
associated with the policy.

"I think it is incumbent of the school district to make sure the 
(counseling) services are available," Campbell said. "I don't think it 
would be fair to put students or parents in a situation where the services 
are not available or would be cost prohibitive."

Campbell said there are several options to make sure counseling wouldn't be 
a financial burden and one would be to hire a person who could provide 
appropriate counseling that the school district could make available.

He also said grants may be available, especially since the school district 
put the policy in place.

"We need to work to make sure parents and students find that counseling. We 
need to almost guarantee it's in place," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Alex