Pubdate: Sun, 25 Oct 2009
Source: Galesburg Register-Mail (IL)
Copyright: 2009 Galesburg Register-Mail
Contact: http://www.register-mail.com/news/letters/index.html
Website: http://www.galesburg.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3864
Author: Chris Mouzakitis
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

DRUG TESTING GETS PASSING GRADE

One GHS Student Tests Positive in First Group of 24

GALESBURG -- Drug testing is in full-swing in District 205, and 
although only one student has tested positive for drug use, nearly 
all the feedback administrators have received has been on the plus side.

Galesburg High School joined thousands across the country in August 
when it began testing students participating in athletics, 
extracurriculars and co-curricular activities. The latter category 
includes band and choir -- classes taken for a grade but with 
practices outside regular school hours. As of Wednesday, 24 GHS 
students from a pool of 985 have been tested. The one student who 
tested positive is receiving help, Superintendent Gene Denisar said 
earlier this month.

"I'm pleased with the feedback we've received," said Diane 
VanHootegem, 205 director for human resources. "That's not to say 
some aren't complaining. I'm sure they are. I just haven't heard it."

In a June survey available on the district's Web site, 57 percent of 
GHS seniors who voted were in favor of the new policy, which was 
approved later that month. Of those surveyed, 43 percent were against 
drug testing.

Students appeared to be similarly split Thursday. Some weren't even 
sure of the details behind the testing.

"I don't like it. I don't think it's needed," said Santino Melgosa, a 
junior at GHS, who will be eligible for testing in the spring when he 
plays baseball. "They don't always do it in bigger cities, so why here?"

Meanwhile other students viewed it -- not unlike the school -- as 
another reason to say "no" to drugs.

"I think they should test us. Why would you want to do drugs when you 
need to stay focused on athletics?" said junior Rogeria Ferguson.

Many students couldn't understand why only certain people were tested.

"If they do it for sports and other activities, they should drug-test 
everybody," said Jacob Schwieter, a sophomore on the golf team.

VanHootegem reiterated what was told to the public when the issue was 
raised this summer when the board voted 4-1, with two absences, to 
approve the policy at GHS.

"The courts do not give such latitudes to schools regarding the 
entire student body," she said. "A right to an education is just 
that, a right. Students have a choice in participating in 
extracurricular activities."

None of the GHS students who were against the new policy planned to 
question the testing.

"That's just my opinion. One of the many," Melgosa said. "I'm not worried."

In October, the school board discussed expanding the program to the 
junior high schools, something Denisar and some board members 
appeared to favor.

How Testing Works

Each week, a computer randomly selects five eligible students for 
testing. Four will be tested. The fifth student serves as an 
alternate in case one of the first four is absent.

(An absent student won't avoid the test for long. He is tested 
immediately upon returning to the school.)

The four chosen are escorted by either the athletic or activities 
director to the school nurse's office.

Once there, students take a urine test administered by a Galesburg 
Cottage Hospital employee.

Each week begins a new testing cycle so all 986 names are eligible.

In the event of a student's refusal to take the test, the district's 
outline of the policy states: "It will be deemed a positive result 
and appropriate consequences will be imposed."

Parents are immediately notified of a positive drug test while a 
negative (drug-free) test results in a "congratulatory" letter sent 
to the family.

Consequences of a positive test vary based on the offense, 
VanHootegem said. An athlete's first-time positive test would result 
in his suspension for one third of a season.

The district chose to test students in the nurse's office rather than 
at an independent site because it didn't want them to miss too much 
class time. Beyond location, the district's only involvement in the 
tests is through the escort to the nurse and the other employee who 
operates the computer that selects student's names.

More information available on GHS's Web site, www.streaks.org, under 
the secondary code of conduct tab.

[sidebar]

DRUG TESTING BY THE NUMBERS

72 percent (985 out of 1,368 total students) of the high school is 
eligible for testing due to participation in extracurricular and 
co-curricular activities

24 students have been tested as of Oct. 21.

One has tested positive. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake