Pubdate: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 Source: Alton Telegraph, The (IL) Copyright: 2008 The Telegraph Contact: http://www.thetelegraph.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1207 Author: Cynthia M. Ellis Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) DRUG TESTING STARTS THIS YEAR AT EA-WRHS Mandatory For Athletes, Interscholastic Activities And Cubs WOOD RIVER - The first day of classes is less than two weeks away, and drug testing will be mandatory for some East Alton-Wood River High School students. Any student who plans to compete in sports or take part in interscholastic activities and clubs must attend a mandatory drug orientation with their parents at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the school's auditorium. Superintendent John Pearson wants to remind the public that students and parents must attend the orientation session on the drug testing policy, or they will not be allowed to participate in activities when school starts. "It's important that they be there," Pearson said. "A representative from the drug testing company will be there to explain what happens and answer any questions, plus students and their parents/guardian will be required to sign a consent form." Although the policy is not new - the EA-WRHS Board passed it in 2001 - - this is the first year the district has had the funding to implement it. It will cost the district approximately $9,000 for the testing, which affects about one in four students. Pearson said that the board previously didn't want to spend the money to enforce the policy, because it would have been about $18,000, and the district's financial situation was bleak. "The budget actually looks pretty good right now," he said. He said the district was able to scale back some of its costs and get better pricing on the testing. School officials said that they don't see a problem with the program, noting the success of drug testing at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, where the overwhelming percentage of students passed the test. School Board President Lonnie McCoy said in a previous interview that there always has been a concern about drugs in school, and Marquette set a good example by testing all their students. "We're a public school, and we can't test every student, but we can test people involved in extracurricular activities," he said. Pearson said letters and telephone messages were sent to parents, along with a bulletin being posted on the school's Web site. "Any of the students involved in activities should know about this," he said. Parents and students who are unable to attend the meeting should contact the school at (618) 254-3151. Pearson said that another meeting will be scheduled in case there are parents/guardians who are unable to attend Wednesday evening's session because of scheduling conflicts, or for new students coming into the district. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin