Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jul 2010
Source: Northwest Herald (IL)
Copyright: 2010 Northwest Herald Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.nwherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2762
Author: Amber Krosel

HUNTLEY HIGH SCHOOL DRUG POLICY IN WORKS

HUNTLEY - Of 20 tests given so far in Huntley High School's new drug
testing program for extracurriculars, the results all have been negative.

A group of 10 students each involved in any extracurriculars -
including sports, music groups and service clubs - were chosen at
random for the months of April and May.

At $150 a test, District 158 has paid $3,000 total to Centegra
Occupational Medicine in McHenry, according to district invoices.

District officials said that whether the results are a testament to
the new program's success in deterring students from drugs or that the
chosen students happened to not use drugs is just speculation.

"I would like to think none of our students would ever test positive,
but I'm also not naive," Superintendent John Burkey said. "I think
it's very good news that we had 20 tests turn out negative."

Since last year, Illinois high school athletes have been subject to
IHSA-mandated drug testing once they reach the postseason series in
their sport.

District 158 decided to take that a step further with a drug-testing
policy that went into effect this spring for high school students in
competitive athletics and activities.

Huntley High School is the first McHenry County school to adopt such a
program.

The district developed the policy for health, prevention and
intervention reasons. Every test checks for use of alcohol, controlled
substances and performance-enhancing steroids.

Before participating in extracurricular activities, students must sign
a consent form that would be valid through the rest of their high
school careers.

About 1,000 teenagers are involved in Huntley's extracurriculars. A
maximum of 10 percent of the total pool of students will be picked
during each testing round, with up to 12 testing dates possible during
the school year.

An individual student's number can be drawn more than once - or even
every time - as the random sampling is generated through a computer
program at Centegra, Burkey said.

The drug tests do not become part of the student's permanent record,
and he or she would not necessarily be expelled or suspended from
school for positive results. However, all activities would end until
the student gets clean.

The district has budgeted up to $20,000 a year to spend on the
program.

"After a year's worth of data, I think we'll have a better picture,"
Burkey added.

Who can be tested

Participants and those trying out for the following extracurricular
activities at Huntley High School are required to sign a consent form
to be entered into a random drug testing program:

- - Academic Team
- - Baseball
- - Basketball
- - Bowling
- - Cheerleading
- - Chorus
- - Color Guard
- - Community Service Club
- - Cross Country
- - Drama and Group Interpretation
- - Fishing
- - Football
- - Golf
- - Journalism
- - Marching Band
- - Math Team   Music
- - National Honor Society
- - Orchesis
- - Poms
- - Soccer
- - Softball
- - Speech
- - Student Council
- - Swimming
- - Tennis
- - Theater
- - Track
- - Volleyball
- - Wrestling

Source: District 158. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D