Pubdate: Fri, 01 Dec 2006
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Andrew C. Martel

DRUG TEST PLAN LEAPS A HURDLE

Board of Education members offered no objections Thursday to a plan 
to randomly test Cumberland County athletes and other students for 
drugs next year. Members of the Policy Committee did not approve the 
drug testing proposal during their meeting. But the issue will be up 
for a vote by the full school board at its Dec. 12 meeting.

About 3,000 students could be tested in the first year of the 
program, said Fred McDaniel, the school system's student activities 
director. They would be randomly selected from randomly selected 
schools, said Kathy Dickson, the associate superintendent for 
administrative services. All students participating in 
school-sponsored sports or competitive extracurricular activities, 
such as marching band, would have to sign a consent form agreeing to 
be tested if they were selected. An outside company would perform the 
tests. Students would be notified the same day they must produce a 
urine sample.

Students would face a range of penalties for positive test results, 
from a one-week suspension from activities for the first violation to 
a permanent ban from extracurricular activities for the third. They 
would also be required to attend counseling. They would not face any 
academic penalties. Some board members raised questions about the 
privacy of students who test positive. McDaniel said only the parents 
and the principal would be notified of a positive test result, 
although it would eventually become clear that the student had been suspended.

"We're not going to broadcast, put it out over the PA 'Hey, this 
kid's been caught using drugs. You better watch out,"' he said. The 
school system will receive a four-year, $1.2 million grant from the 
U.S. Department of Education to test students.

Board member Larry Lancaster said he thought the time had come for 
such a policy. But Chairman Donald LaHuffman asked if a drug testing 
program creates the perception that drug use is rampant in high 
schools, or whether it will keep kids from joining extracurricular 
activities. Superintendent Bill Harrison said he thinks the opposite 
will likely happen: students will avoid drugs to remain eligible to join teams.

Board member Frank Barrigan said he supports the policy, but he added 
that the school system should make sure the penalties for drug use 
are consistent with those for alcohol and cigarette use.

"I'd hate for someone to be suspended for five days for drugs, 11 
days for smoking a cigarette, 45 days for the presence of alcohol," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine