Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006
Source: Times Record News (Wichita Falls, TX)
Copyright: 2006 The E.W. Scripps Co.
Contact:  http://TimesRecordNews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/995

DRUG TESTS ALL CLEAR

Local Students Yielded No Postive Results

All Wichita Falls high schools reported negative drug test results on 
the first round of drug testing for the school year, but one refusal 
at Rider High School spoiled any perfect record.

One Rider student randomly selected to be drug tested declined to 
take the test.

A refusal counts as an automatic positive test for the student and the school.

This particular student had a history of two positive tests, and this 
refusal counted as a third positive.

"It's pretty much 'three strikes, you're out,' " said Julie 
Henderson, WFISD director of health and wellness, and coordinator of 
last week's drug testing at Rider, Wichita Falls High School, Hirschi 
and Harrell Accelerated Learning Center.

Random testing took place at Rider on Monday, at Wichita Falls High 
School on Tuesday and at Hirschi and Harrell on Wednesday.

The Rider student who refused to be tested can still participate in 
practices of his extra-curricular activity but is suspended for the 
rest of the year from any performances or competitions, Henderson said.

This was the student's first drug-test refusal, she said. The Rider 
student "was one of the kids we tracked through the summer, and he 
came back clean. He was put into this random test but, when he 
refused, that put him at his third strike."

Positive drug tests follow students throughout their high school 
careers, Henderson said. The slate is not wiped clean every fall.

Despite the one Rider student's predicament, the "all clear" reports 
from all drug tests taken at all the schools "was good news," 
Henderson said. "We're starting off the year on a negative, and 
that's a positive," she said jokingly.

Only students who participate in extra-curricular activities are 
included in the pool from which random students are pulled for drug 
tests throughout the school year.

The pool is growing, with 2,541 students in it this year compared to 
2,373 last year.

This is the second year that WFISD has randomly drug-tested its high 
school students. The urinalysis tests, which are conducted during the 
morning before students scatter for lunch, cost the district $25 
each. The occasional steroid test, which is used randomly, costs the 
district $140 apiece.

"It keeps the kids guessing," Henderson said. "We don't standardize 
it too much."

Rider has a particularly large group of freshmen involved in 
extra-curricular activities this year, prompting drug tests of more 
freshmen than usual, Henderson said.

At Rider, 61 students were tested; at WFHS, 46 were tested; at 
Hirschi, 17 were tested, and at Harrell, one student was tested.

Several more rounds of random drug-testing will be conducted 
throughout the school year.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine