Pubdate: Mon, 12 Jul 2004
Source: Joplin Globe, The (MO)
Copyright: 2004 The Joplin Globe
Contact:  http://www.joplinglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/859
Author: Jeff Wells

DRUG TESTING FLOATED FOR R-7

Superintendent Says Policy Would Follow Other Schools

WEBB CITY, Mo. - The Webb City R-7 School District is considering whether 
to join a growing list of area districts in testing some students for 
illegal drugs.

The school board will hear Tuesday night from Randy Richardson, the 
district's activities director, as well as staff, students and parents 
about whether random drug testing should be introduced for high school 
students participating in extracurricular activities.

The board meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration 
Building, 411 N. Madison Ave.

Webb City currently does not have a drug-testing program. The district has 
avoided implementing testing, in part, because administrators did not want 
to single out students, said Superintendent Ron Lankford.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in June 2002 that random drug-testing 
programs, previously restricted to athletes, can be expanded to include all 
students participating in extracurricular activities and some classes.

"To me that makes it more suitable," Lankford said. "It shouldn't be just 
athletes and band members if it is meant to be a deterrent."

But Lankford says he still has reservations.

"I kind of hate to have to be in a situation where kids have to prove they 
are innocent," Lankford said.

The district is not reacting to an increase of drug abuse or drug-related 
suspensions among its students, Lankford said. High-school coaches and 
counselors asked administrators to consider adopting a drug-testing policy, 
he said.

"We are not reacting to a situation," Lankford said. "We are following the 
lead of other schools."

Among the benefits of random testing, said Eric Johnson, boy's basketball 
coach, is it gives students an easy excuse to say "No."

"I think the majority of coaches and the heads of the other activities 
support it," Johnson said. "We feel it would be a positive for our 
district. We just want to make sure it is done correctly."

The push for random drug testing in other districts has drawn criticism 
that the tests violate student privacy.

The Carthage R-9 School District implemented drug testing at the start of 
the 2003-2004 school year. Carthage's policy makes junior-high and 
high-school students who participate in athletics, band, choir and speech, 
and programs such as FFA, math and science competition groups subject to 
testing.

Students in noncompetitive programs such as the chess, fishing, movie and 
foreign-language clubs, and national honor societies are also subject to 
random testing in Carthage. Other students may participate by submitting a 
consent form.

Other area districts with drug-testing programs include Carl Junction and 
Columbus, Kan.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart