Pubdate: Sat, 12 Nov 2005
Source: Times-Journal, The (Fort Payne, AL)
Copyright: 2005 Times-Journal
Contact:  http://www.times-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1883
Author: Mark Harrison
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOLS SUPPORT TESTING

Superintendents of neighboring school systems say they believe a 
recent move by Fort Payne to begin drug-testing students is a step in 
the right direction.

John Mullins, superintendent of the Arab School System, said a 
similar policy has served his system well. The Arab system has been 
drug-testing student athletes for about 10 years, but expanded this 
past year to include students involved in any type of 
extracurricular, competitive activity, as well as students who drive to school.

Fort Payne's drug testing policy will also include students who 
participate in extracurricular, competitive activities, as well as 
student drivers.

Mullins said, "Before we had about 40 percent of students in grades 
seven through 12 in the random pool and now we have about 82 percent."

He said the system completed its third round of random testing under 
the new system last week. He said, so far this year, 63 Arab students 
have been tested and only one has tested positive, for marijuana use.

"We think it's a great deterrent. We realize it's hard for children 
sometimes to withstand peer pressure, but when they are likely to be 
tested there is a greater opportunity for them to say no," Mullins said.

"Fort Payne and Arab are similar in size and geography. The truth is 
we have a drug problem in America and in Alabama and northeast 
Alabama may have a bigger problem proportionately than other areas of 
the country," Mullins said. "It is a deterrent that has served us 
well and I believe it can also serve the Fort Payne system well."

Robert Sparkman, superintendent of the Albertville City School 
System, agreed. His system has been randomly testing student athletes 
for about four years.

"We have run into no problems with it at all. Our community is very 
much in favor and wants us to be very persistent about keeping drugs 
out of schools," he said. "It has absolutely been a deterrent for us."

Fort Payne superintendent Jimmy Cunningham said he believes the 
drug-testing policy here will also serve as a deterrent.

"To me, this gives [students] an extra out to say no - 'my coach 
might find out or my parents might find out,'" Cunningham said. "I 
think it gives a student a positive 'no.'"

Last month, the school board unanimously approved moving forward with 
developing a drug policy and testing procedure that he said should be 
in place by spring.
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MAP posted-by: Beth