Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 Source: Daily News (KY) Copyright: 2003 News Publishing LLC Contact: http://www.bgdailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1218 Author: Taylor Loyal SCHOOL BOARD A STEP CLOSER TO RANDOM DRUG-TESTING FOR EDMONSON STUDENTS The Edmonson County School Board approved a first reading of a new drug-testing policy with the blessing of several parents who attended the meeting Monday night. The policy, which would randomly test any middle-or high-school student who is involved in extracurricular activities or drives to school, is one of the most aggressive in Southcentral Kentucky and has gained the praise of many in the district. It is the school board's statement about the seriousness of the issue, said Darrell Cassady, superintendent of Edmonson County Schools. The board also voted in favor of a contract with Drug Abuse Resistance Education at the elementary level, which they believe will help with the prevention of drug use. The tests would be given to about 320 students a year. They will be given by outside agencies and no school personnel will be involved in the tests. Student athletes can be tested even after their particular seasons are over. If implemented, employees of a yet-to-be-chosen group would show up without warning to the students and conduct the tests, board Chairman Tommy Ritter said. "Your kid's liable to get pulled three times and mine never get pulled, but that's random," he said. "If you do anything else, it's not fair." The whole process would cost "in the neighborhood of $10,000," according to Cassady, but the board said it's well worth it. The high school would also have to issue parking passes to monitor who is driving to school. "If we can just save one or more (students), I don't know if you can put a value on that," Cassady said. Parents in the crowd agreed, and some argued in favor of testing every child, although Cassady told them he'd been advised against that by board attorney Mike Owsley. Kaye Tomes, a parent in the district, said her son Jeremy will be a sophomore next year. He will be in FFA and will be driving. She and her son are in favor of the drug testing. The policy could deter students who aren't using drugs from starting and persuade students who are using drugs to seek help, Tomes said. She also said she liked the consequences for a positive test, which would involve sending students to counseling and possibly a drug treatment program instead of expulsion. The student will not be allowed to drive to school or to participate in extracurricular activities until the counseling is completed, according to the proposed policy. He or she will also be tested five times during the six months that follow the positive test. Punishments get more severe if a student repeatedly tests positive. Scott Skaggs, a Kentucky State police trooper who has a son at Edmonson County High School, said he is also for the tests. His son Tyler is a sophomore who will try out for basketball and will likely join a few clubs next year. Skaggs said he worries about his son and others in that age group who are being exposed to drugs at an early age. "Every county around here, we have a major drug problem," Skaggs said. "Meth is tremendous and it's grabbing younger children all the time." The state trooper said eventually police will catch daily users, but the policy will serve as a deterrent to those who haven't started yet. "I am for everything they did," he said. "I was for even more." No decision made on ECHS opening day The school board chose not to make a final decision about the opening day for Edmonson County High School. Work being done to the school could push back the date it opens. Members of the board said they have received calls from parents with inquiries about the opening day, but they still don't have a definite answer. The board has asked architects to speed up work on the high school. They will likely make a decision this week about the opening day, and how any changes will affect the school calendar. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart