Pubdate: Sun, 28 Jan 2007
Source: Victoria Advocate (TX)
Copyright: 2007 Victoria Advocate Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/671
Author: Bill Hatch, Advocate Sports Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

VISD DOES NOT TEST FOR STEROIDS

Cost the Biggest Factor in Testing

Victoria school district has a drug-testing policy, but  it does not
include testing for steroids.

Cost is the biggest obstacle.

The cost of a single steroids test can range from $80  to over $200,
said Ramiro Rubio, the emergency  operations director.

"We don't do the steroids test," Rubio said, explaining  the
district's new policy, which was implemented in  August. "We
implemented a random drug test for students  in grades six through 12.
If they are participating in  a UIL sport or the band or mariachis or
the National  Honor Society or drive a car on the campus, then the
parent has to sign a consent form for them to  participate and they
are on the wheel (list) included  in the random drug tests."

Random drug tests are carried out once a month on 80  students from
the two Memorial High School campuses and  on 33 middle school
students from the three middle  schools.

The cost for each test is $15.45.

The company contracted to do the testing - Forward Edge  Inc. of
Pasadena, arrives on campus with a list of  names randomly generated
by a computer and students are  called from classes to be tested.

Larry Hirt, the VISD athletic director, said the  district studied a
variety of proposals for a steroids  test but felt the costs were
prohibitive.

"Very few high schools that I know have a steroids  testing program
because the cost is prohibitive," he  said. "I know there has been
discussion in the state  legislature and the UIL on mandating a test
but they  start to back off when they see how much it is going to
cost the school district.

"The cost is staggering and state is not going to pay  for it so I
don't see them mandating that to us," Hirt  added. "We would like to
have a deterrent for kids to  say 'no.' It's not like we wouldn't
necessarily like to  do it but cost is a major factor in why it's not
done."

Hirt said he believes a test for steroids would be an  important
deterrent.

"I wouldn't oppose it," he said. "Most coaches don't  object to it. We
want our kids to be drug free. We're  not against it. We're trying to
give kids the right  opportunity to do the right thing. Once drug
testing  starts, positive tests decline.

"Kids start to realize that a positive test could  jeopardize whatever
extracurricular activities they are  doing," Hirt added. "Any reason
to say no is a good  thing. Anything that gets them by peer pressure
is a  good thing. It's a deterrent and we don't want kids to  get
mixed up in that culture."

Rubio, who handles everything from tobacco to drug  testing and school
safety issues, said he believes the  VISD policy has been successful.
He expects the school  board to request a report on the first year at
the end  of the school year.

"Under program we have now, it's working out pretty  good," he said.
"We had a meeting with parents at the  community center and explained
the policy. Some parents  called and requested that their children be
put on the  wheel - the list for the random drug tests - and we did
that. If their child's name is randomly selected, then  they pay for
it.

"Some wanted their child tested on the next test and  they were
willing pay for it," Rubio added. "We agreed  to that and they did
have them tested and we gave them  the results. It's their preference.
Some have concerns  about their children and they want to stay ahead
of  time."

For students who test positive, the first offense  requires a 21-day
suspension from extracurricular  activities, drug counseling and
monthly drug test paid  for by their parents. The second offense
results in a  90-day suspension, more counseling and continued
monthly drug test paid for by their parents. The third  offense,
results in suspension for the rest of the  student's school career.

The VISD policy is explained at the district's Web site  at
www.visd.com, To read it, click on VISD board  policies, then click on
students' rights and  responsibilities: interrogations and searches.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake