Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jul 2006
Source: Clovis Independent (CA)
Copyright: 2006, Clovis Independent
Contact:  http://www.clovisindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3610
Author: Gabriel Alexander Independent, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CLOVIS UNIFIED GETS RESULTS FROM FIRST YEAR OF  DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM

Board Approves Second Year Of Voluntary Testing In High Schools

School officials found out recently how many  high-schoolers tested
positive during spring drug  tests.

The voluntary program that keeps students' names  anonymous randomly
tested 440 Clovis Unified students  for amphetamine, cocaine,
marijuana, opiates,  phencyclidine and steroids.

Eleven students tested positive, 12 students refused to  take the test
and 17 tests were cancelled because of  inaccurate readings.

Eight of the 11 students who tested positive had used  marijuana, and
three had used amphetamines.

"We're pleased," said Lyn Snauffer, assistant  superintendent of the
Clovis West High School area and  coordinator of the drug-testing
program. "The vast  majority of students involved in the program had
negative results."

This is the first year Clovis Unified tested students  for drugs.

Both parents and students had to sign a waiver before a  student could
be tested. Students were allowed to  decline the test or drop out of
the program at any  time.

More than 1,100 students enrolled in the program when  it was first
launched as a pilot in January.

"We had very few drop out and more added as the spring  went on,"
Snauffer said.

On a random day each month, an outside agency took a  urine sample
from about 10 percent of the participants  at Clovis Unified's four
high schools and Gateway, an  alternative-education high school. Only
one steroids  test was conducted at each school because of the
expense. It costs about $25 per test to check for drugs  such as
cocaine and marijuana and $300 for one steroids  test.

The results are confidential.

At the end of the school year, the district finds out  how many
students tested positive or negative but  doesn't see any names.

The drug-testing agency -- Central Drug Systems -- only  notifies the
parents when a student tests positive or  refuses to take the test.
One of the goals of the  program is to open up doors for parents and
their  children to discuss drugs.

The district modeled the program after the drug-testing  program at
San Clemente High School in Southern  California.

The principal and athletic director from San Clemente  visited Clovis
to share information with the district.

San Clemente began the program in 2002 with 600 to 800  students
involved. Now in its fourth year, Snauffer  said, the program tests
1,600 students a year, which is  60 percent of student enrollment.

Clovis Unified's Governing Board voted to set aside  $33,500 for the
drug-testing program to continue next  year at its May 24 meeting.

District officials said even more students will  participate next year
because drug-testing waivers will  be included in high school
registration packets.

"We believe the numbers will increase because even more  parents will
see the information," said Kelly Avants,  Clovis Unified's
spokesperson.

Some students don't need a nudge from mom or dad to  sign up for the
program.

Kassie Lee, who graduated from Buchanan High School  this year, heard
students say the drug tests gave them  an excuse to say "no" to peer
pressure.

"I think [the drug tests] have multiple purposes,"  Kassie said. "It's
a good way for kids to tell other  kids they can't do drugs."

Even the negative results were a plus, district  officials said. At
first, officials were concerned the  program would only draw students
who weren't drug  users.

"Although it would be great to have zero positives,  [the drug tests]
are doing what we want them to do,"  Avants said. "It's not just for
the kids who don't need  to be tested in the first place."
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MAP posted-by: Derek