Pubdate: Wed, 16 Aug 2006
Source: Mount Shasta Herald (CA)
Copyright: 2006 Mt. Shasta News
Contact:  http://www.mtshastanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3515
Author: Paul Boerger
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SUHSD DRUG TESTING PROPOSAL PUT ON HOLD

After several lengthy discussions and public comment at  board 
meetings and two special public forums, Siskiyou  Union High School 
District took no action August 9th on  a drug testing proposal for 
its Weed and Mount Shasta  schools.

The issue is still alive, however, as both schools were  directed to 
create committees to further study the  issue.

After public comment during last Wednesday's regular  board of 
trustees meeting and statements of support for  the testing from Weed 
principal Make Matheson and Mount  Shasta principal Jim Cox, 
superintendent Richard Holmes  read a prepared statement outlining the policy.

"The superintendent supports outcomes associated  with mandatory 
random drug testing, reduction or  elimination of drug use among 
athletes or student body  officers," Holmes said. "The implementation 
and  comprehensive understanding of the purpose and  follow-up of 
such a policy needs to be further  explored. Therefore, it is my 
recommendation that the  board not take action at this time, but 
direct the  principals to appoint a site level task force to  examine 
the proposed policy and develop administrative  procedures for its 
implementation. In addition, the  task force should work closely with 
the athletic  department in their efforts this year to review and 
revise their athletic codes of conduct."

The task forces at each school will consist of three  parents, three 
students, two teachers, athletic  director, principal and possibly a 
school nurse and a  representative from Siskiyou County Behavorial Health.

With some policy differences between the schools, the  proposed drug 
testing would include athletes, student  body officers and pep squad 
members. Students would be  chosen at random and tested with an oral 
swab that  would be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The swab  test 
for for amphetamines, cocaine, methamphetamines,  opiates, PCP and 
THC, the active ingredient in  marijuana.

A first positive test would result in a two-week  suspension from the 
team, followed by suspension for  the season for a second positive 
test and suspension  from that activity for the student's entire high 
school  career for a third positive test.

Parents would be notified of a positive result, but law  enforcement 
would not. A counseling component has been  proposed and is being 
explored, but is not currently  available.

As they have in the past, Matheson and Cox supported  the testing.

"Despite all our efforts with education and  prevention, there is 
still a problem," Cox said.

Cox said more study was needed with a consensus reached  before 
implementation. He also noted that alcohol,  which parents and others 
had said they considered a  bigger problem than drugs, should be 
included in the  testing.

"I still believe drug testing should be a part of  the discussions," Cox said.

Matheson said the district should not “hang our  hat on" 
testing, but it should be one component of a whole package."

Matheson said he supported the task force concept but  said, "We're 
missing an opportunity by not doing  it now."

MSHS reported two alcohol incidents with sports team  members last 
year and WHS reported eight drug or  alcohol incidents with the 
targeted groups.

Many citizens who attended previous discussions were at  the meeting, 
expressing their opposition or support.

Among the objections were Constitutional rights of  probable cause 
and equal protection, that removing  students from the teams was 
counterproductive, and that  the program unfairly singled out a 
limited group of  students.

"We're casting too big a net to catch too few  kids," said a parent. 
"We will have a constant  cloud of suspicion over a certain group of kids."

Proponents have said the testing would provide a  deterrent by 
offering the target group a reason to say  no, that research has 
shown testing reduced drug use  and that catching a drug problem 
early could prevent greater problems.

One proponent expressed reservations as to what a  positive result 
could mean to a student.

"My concern is that a positive drug test could  result in a student 
being ostracized and singled out,"  she said.

Other proponents felt the two schools should have  identical policies 
and that the testing procedures,  counseling program and consequences 
needed additional  refinement and study.

Other suggestions have included testing the entire  target group at 
the beginning of each season and drug  counseling to entire teams 
instead of the testing. A  wrist ban worn for the entire season would 
identify  students as liable for testing as a way of reminding  their 
peers not to offer them drugs and their  commitment to the team.

Board members did not comment on the issue. The  previous vote on the 
first reading of the policy was  6-1 in favor with trustee Lori Harch 
voting no.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom