Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jul 2006
Source: Salem Times-Commoner (IL)
Copyright: 2006 Salem Times-Commoner
Contact:  http://www.salem-tc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4215
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CHRIST OUR ROCK ADOPTS RANDOM DRUG TESTING

In an effort to be proactive about helping Christ Our Rock Lutheran High 
School (CORLHS) students stay drug free, the Association Board of Directors 
recently approved a random drug testing policy that will be implemented for 
the 2006-2007 school year.

The policy states, "Staying free of the use of illegal drugs or alcohol is 
crucial to a student's success in school and life, and is appropriate in 
our efforts to glorify God in all that we do."

Principal Curtis Wudtke said that the purpose of the program is to provide 
for the health and safety of all students and to undermine the effects of 
peer pressure by providing a legitimate reason for students to refuse to 
use illegal drugs or alcohol.

Board President, and parent of two CORLHS students, Dave Klein stated, 
"This policy gives our students the tool that they need to get out of 
tempting situations without making a bad decision. It's going to help our 
students stay drug free."

Under the new policy, up to 20 percent of enrolled students will be 
randomly tested at least four times during each school year. The testing 
will be completed by an independent drug-testing vendor yet to be selected 
by the board. The vendor will be responsible for randomly and 
confidentially selecting the students. The four-page policy sets very 
specific policies and procedures for this testing.

Wudtke explained, "From its conception, Christ Our Rock Lutheran High 
School has emphasized the need to be a drug-free school. The school has 
strong policies against drug use in place and has developed an application 
process to help screen incoming students. We are not doing this because we 
have a drug problem at CORLHS. We are doing this to try to make sure that 
we never have a drug problem at this school. Considering the issues that 
our community has regarding illegal drug use, we want to do everything in 
our power to help our students avoid this temptation while making sure they 
are surrounded by positive influences."

Behavior Research Center, Inc., recently completed a market analysis for 
CORLHS. They interviewed families with middle school or high school age 
children from the geographical area served by CORLHS and reported the 
results to the Christ Our Rock leadership. The study showed that the 
biggest concern for families considering parochial high school education is 
a drug-free environment. In fact, 96 percent of interviewed families 
reported that having their student in a drug-free environment was very 
important to them.

In a letter to parents, Wudtke wrote, "Our board recognizes that this is a 
bold move as they unanimously approved the policy. The board members felt 
that we can't be too careful when it comes to dealing with illegal drug use 
and felt that now was the right time, while we are still small and close 
knit, to enact this policy that will benefit CORLHS for years to come."

At the same time that Christ Our Rock is implementing the student policy, 
they are also beginning random drug testing of faculty and staff. Wudtke 
stated, "We're not going to ask our students to do anything that we are not 
willing to do."

Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School is getting ready to begin its third 
year of operation in Centralia. On July 9, they broke ground to establish a 
new permanent facility. Site work has begun at the 31 acre campus by 
Kaskaskia College. CORLHS serves students in grades nine through 12 and is 
open to all families who seek a Christian, drug-free high school for their 
children.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D