Pubdate: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 Source: Record, The (CA) Copyright: 2003 The Record Contact: http://www.recordnet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/428 BRET HARTE DRUG TESTS NEARER Trustees Leave Proposal Untouched After Hearing From Parents, Coaches ANGELS CAMP -- A drug-testing program for Bret Harte High School student athletes could be in place in time for the start of the school year next month. The proposed policy passed an initial round of scrutiny by district trustees this week and will return for a second reading Aug. 4. If trustees approve the policy then, it would take effect in August. Superintendent Joseph Wilimek said parents and coaches expressed support for the policy at Monday night's meeting, and trustees did not ask to make any changes. The policy would test for six families of drugs as well as alcohol. Every student participating in sports, including cheerleading, would be subject to testing. School officials and coaches say drug testing would prevent problems, because it would give students a reason to say no to drug use when pressured by peers. The policy would allow all student athletes to be tested at the beginning of every sport season and calls for random testing throughout the year. Students who test positive for amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, THC -- the active ingredient in marijuana -- opiates or alcohol would be barred from participating in sports until they enrolled in a drug-education program overseen by a school counselor. Those students would be subject to mandatory urinalysis at least every 30 days for as long as school officials deem fit. As long as offenders enrolled in the drug-education program and stayed drug free, they could continue participating in athletics. Once they finished the drug-education program, they would need a doctor's clearance to continue participating in sports. A second positive test would make students ineligible for the rest of their respective sports season and 10 practice days into their next sports season. Subsequent positive tests would trigger stiffer consequences. Bret Harte would become the first Mother Lode League district to adopt a drug-testing policy if trustees approve it next month. Only a handful of schools in the entire Sac-Joaquin Section have such policies. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens