Pubdate: Fri, 19 May 2006
Source: Daily Times, The (TN)
Copyright: 2006 Horvitz Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.thedailytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1455
Author: Bonny C. Millard
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SOME COUNTY STUDENTS FACE DRUG TESTING

Blount County high school students involved in sports  and other
extracurricular activities will be subjected  to random drug testing
starting this coming school  year.

Returning students at Heritage High School and incoming  freshman from
Heritage, Eagleton and Carpenters middle  schools were informed of the
new policy Thursday night.

HHS Athletic Director Terri Bradshaw said a mandatory  meeting for
athletes and those who might want to  participate is normally held at
the beginning of the  school year, but it was held now so that
students and  parents would be familiar with the policy.

About 400 students and their parents filled the commons  area of the
school.

Bradshaw outlined the policy, explaining what was  required and how
positive test results would be dealt  with.

Bradshaw told students the new policy was not meant as  a punishment
but rather to help them.

"We're giving you a tool (to say no), but we're also  trying to reach
out to people who need help," she  said.

The random drug testing will be done throughout the  year, meaning a
student's name could be chosen more  than once. The school will also
be able to order a drug  test based on "documented reasonable
suspicions,"  Bradshaw said.

Principal Becca Wolfenbarger said the drug-testing  policy also
applies to students who participate in  theater arts, band and other
music programs and  AFJROTC. These activities take students off campus
on  an ongoing basis.

"The primary focus is a legitimate reason to say no,"  she said.
"It's not meant to punish kids. It gives  them a good excuse when
they're with their peers. At  least, it gives them a tool that they
can use not to  succumb to peer pressure."

A certified lab will do a urinalysis. Students have to  sign a consent
form before they will be allowed to  participate in an activity.

Bradshaw explained the four levels of positive test  results. The drug
testing company will contact parents,  but not school administrators
with the first positive  test result.

"The purpose of this is to let the parents know so  they can do
something," Bradshaw said.

The student will be retested in 30 days. If that result  is also
positive, the principal and athletic or other  appropriate staff will
be notified, and the student is  suspended from participating in the
activity for 30  days. In addition, the student will be required to
undergo drug counseling.

Another drug test will be done at the end of this  period. A third
positive drug test will result in the  student being suspended from
participating for one  year.

A fourth-positive drug test will make the student  permanently
ineligible to participate in sports or  other activities.

Students who refused to sign the consent form will be  handled the
same as having a fourth-positive test,  Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw told the students that when they are called up  for testing,
if they are taking over-the-counter  medicines or prescription drugs,
they need to make it  known before the test is done.

Although faculty is not required to submit to random  drug testing,
Bradshaw said she intends to and believes  the coaches will as well.

"I'm going to be the first one to submit my name for  the random
testing," she said.

According to the policy, the testing will be for banned  drugs
including "marijuana (THC), alcohol,  amphetamines, anabolic
steroids, cocaine, barbiturates  and methamphetamines."

The test result can be appealed at the expensive of the  parents. All
results will be kept confidential and will  not be "part of the
student's permanent record."

HHS's new basketball coach, Tony Hardin, said he is in  favor it the
policy and thinks it helps students make  better choices.

"It gives players that might be caught in the wrong  peer group an
easy out," said Hardin, who coached at  Elizabethton High School,
where a similar policy was in  effect. A reception was held for Hardin
after the  meeting.

Years in the making

Bradshaw said the school system has wanted to institute  this policy
for several years. A Supreme Court ruling  put schools on firmer
ground for random drug testing by  saying that sports and other
activities are a privilege  and not a right.

"We've been looking at this about four or five  years," she
said.

A nurse at the county's employee clinic will take  samples, which also
makes it affordable, Bradshaw said.

Don Talbott, Blount County school board chairman,  agreed, saying
using the county nurse "has made it  cost-effective to do it."

Talbott said he's glad the school is addressing the  issue now so that
students will be prepared when school  starts.

"I hope it works as a deterrent. It'll make kids think  and give them
a reason to say no," he said. "I'm  hoping this will counter peer
pressure."
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MAP posted-by: Derek