Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC) Copyright: 2007 Fayetteville Observer Contact: http://www.fayobserver.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150 Author: Andrew Martel Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) CUMBERLAND SCHOOLS ADOPTS DRUG TESTING PLAN The meeting: The board met Tuesday evening in the school system's central office. What happened: The board voted to give final approval to a drug testing program for students. The board gave the plan preliminary approval in December. Starting next year, high school students will have to agree to be drug tested before they will be allowed to participate in competitive extracurricular activities, such as marching band or any sports. About 1,500 students will be tested next year. The program is paid for by a four-year, $1.2million grant. Student representatives at the meeting spoke in favor of the plan. Matthew Karkutt, Gray's Creek High School student body president, said he thought the plan would make students take responsibility for their actions. Why you should care: Students will have to stay off drugs if they want to play sports or participate in many activities. After two positive tests, they will be suspended from activities for a year. A third violation results in a permanent ban, though there are no academic penalties. What they said: "I think a lot of people take advantage of their involvement in extracurricular activities," said Karkutt, who had earlier spoken to the board about alcohol abuse in high schools. "If they take their ability to play sports more seriously, they'll take their academics more seriously." Other business: The board also agreed to adhere to a curriculum that teaches abstinence until marriage as part of sex education classes. The board is required to sign a form stating that the abstinence curriculum will not be mixed with any other elements of sex education before it can receive federal money for the program. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek