Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jun 2006 Source: Branson Daily News (MO) Copyright: 2006 The Branson Daily News Contact: http://www.bransondailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4031 Author: Brandon Cone, BDN Staff Writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) DRUG TESTING AWAITS FINAL APPROVAL Officials with the Branson School District say that they are already making preparations to begin a random drug-testing program for the upcoming school year. Superintendent Doug Hayter said the policy only has one more hurdle to jump before gaining full approval. "We have sent a copy of the policy to the Missouri School Board Association for final review," Hayter said. "We are planning to implement the policy for this upcoming school year." Hayter said school faculty will begin determining which students will be added to the pool in late July and early August. The policy, which gained approval from the school board in May, will be random and will only apply to students participating in extracurricular activities and students who drive to school. "This all hinges on privileges versus educational rights," Hayter said. "For this reason, we have moved away from any activities that affect a student's grade, such as band. "However any student that participates in an activity that is a privilege will be subject to testing. "Playing a sport is a privilege. A student does not have to play a sport to receive an education. The same with driving to school and parking. A student does not have to drive to school. These are things we allow students to do and that is why we made the decisions we did." The board initiated the idea of random drug-testing in October 2005. A task force of students, teachers and administrators from the intermediate, junior high and high schools met late last year to make the drug-testing recommendations. The company which conducts drug testing for the school district's bus drivers, Employee Screening Services, will also be conducting the students' drug tests. The company also conducts drug tests for the students and employees from other schools in southwest Missouri. School Board President Peter Marcellus confirmed after the board unanimously passed the measure last month that its members have volunteered to be the first to take part in the drug testing. In Taney County, the Forsyth and Hollister school districts have similar policies to test each student who participates in extra-curricular activities. In both districts, each student is tested at the start of the school year. The rest of the year, students are tested randomly. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman