Pubdate: Sun, 24 Feb 2008
Source: Gadsden Times, The (AL)
Copyright: 2008 The Gadsden Times
Contact:  http://www.gadsdentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1203
Author: Andy Powell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

PROPOSED DRUG TESTS WOULD COVER MOST STUDENTS

A proposed random alcohol- and drug-testing program  would affect 80
to 85 percent of students at Gadsden  City High School, officials say,
including those who  participate in extracurricular activities or
drive  vehicles to school.

Hearings on the proposal will be at 6 p.m. Monday and  Thursday at the
Gadsden City High School Auditorium.

The policy will apply to athletes, cheerleaders or  students
participating in other school-related  activities in grades seven
through 12. An  extracurricular activity is defined as any school or
school-related activity not required as a part of a  student's
mandated basic educational curriculum. That  would include band, clubs
and other activities.

It also includes students who operate or park a motor  vehicle at
school and students who have been  voluntarily added to the random
pool with the consent  of parents.

According to the policy, which is posted on the city  Board of
Education's Web site, students may be tested  for alcohol or drug use
prior to beginning a seasonal  activity, during the season of activity
or before  granting parking privileges on a random basis without
advance notice.

Once a student is placed in the random pool, the  student is subject
to testing for the entire year.

Any student with a positive test for alcohol or drugs  confirmed by
the board's medical review officer, will  be subject to consequences
"which include immediate  suspension from student activities." That
suspension  would last a month for the first violation, and a
negative test and counseling would be required for
reinstatement.

Those consequences also cover a "no-contact positive  test," which
means the medical resource officer is  unable to reach a parent to
confirm that drugs detected  are legally justified.

Refusal to submit to testing or refusing to cooperate  in any test
investigation "will result in immediate  suspension from participating
in extracurricular  activities or parking for 365 days."

Students who violate the policy will not be penalized
academically.

Superintendent Bob Russell said, for example, students  would still go
to band class or choral classes but  would not be able to perform.

In addition to suspension from parking and  extracurricular activities
for the first violation, the  policy also calls for the student and
parent to attend  conferences with a school drug coordinator, attend
prevention counseling and attend an Alcoholics  Anonymous or Narcotics
Anonymous meeting. The student  must report to a designated school
counselor once a  week for four weeks.

According to the consent form, students are required to  sign the
release only if they park on campus, are a  member of a club, are a
class officer or are involved  in any other extracurricular activity,
band and or  athletics.
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MAP posted-by: Derek