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