Pubdate: Tue, 28 Nov 2006
Source: Naples Daily News (FL)
Copyright: 2006 Naples Daily News.
Contact:  http://www.naplesnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/284
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES DRUG TESTING GRANT

The Collier County School District will receive  $209,662 for a drug
testing grant, making it the  second-highest grant recipient in the
United States.

U.S. drug czar John Waters announced $8.6 million in  grants
nationwide for random student drug testing  programs during a visit
this afternoon to Barron  Collier High School in North Naples. Florida
received  three of the grants, the most for any state in the  nation.

Joe Kemper, Barron Collier High School's athletic  director, said the
drug testing could begin as early as  this spring for student-athletes
but likely wouldn't  start until 2007-08 school year.

Collier will conduct random student drug testing in  seven high
schools with more than 3,000  student-athletes and cheerleaders as the
target  population.

Grants were awarded based on strength of proposal and  all schools
that applied had to demonstrate a need for  such a grant.

Waters, whose full title is White House director of  National Drug
Control Policy, said so many times  communities apply for the grants
after it's too late,  meaning, after a drug-related death of a young
person.  Deputy Secretary of Education Ray Simon joined Waters  at
today's news conference.

Waters said he sees Collier County as taking a positive  step toward
drug prevention in the schools by applying  for and receiving the grant.
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MAP posted-by: Derek