Pubdate: Sat, 14 Aug 2010
Source: Standard-Examiner (UT)
Copyright: 2010 Ogden Publishing Corporation
Contact:  http://www.standard.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/421

BOX ELDER SCHOOL DISTRICT'S DRUG POLICY DEEMED A SUCCESS

BRIGHAM CITY -- After a controversial start, the Box Elder School
District drug policy was deemed a success and will be used again in
the upcoming school year.

Bear River High School Vice Principal Chad Kirby told the school board
he did not believe there needed to be any amendments to the policy.

"It is working with what we are currently doing," Kirby said, adding
that in this school year the resource officer will give the anti-drug
information to all students rather than just the students who sign up
for sports.

School nurse Bonnie Young said three parents asked to be present at
the time of testing.

"By the time it was done, they said it was really no big deal," Young
said.

The district also had another parent ask that their student be
tested.

"The drug testing policy has now become a good resource for the school
to help families," Young said.

Box Elder High School vice principal Sharon Brown said she has also
heard from several students that the drug policy gave them a good
excuse when asked if they would like to use drugs.

"They can say, 'I might get tested,' " Brown said.

Names are picked at random from a pool of students who participate in
activities sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association.
Parents must sign a permission slip when their child registers for the
activity.

Box Elder High School had 320 names and administered 220 tests, with
22 students who were tested two times or more.

Brown said two students at Box Elder came forth before the testing and
the school sent them to Bear River Health Department to receive help.

"The coaching staff has felt the drug testing has been a deterrent,"
Brown said.

Kirby said Bear River High School administered 164 tests, with 22
students tested more than once.

He said two students at Bear River also came forward and were referred
to BRHD.

"The school also had two that tested positive, but both times it was
tracked back to medications that had been prescribed to the student
but had not been disclosed at time of testing," Kirby said.
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