Pubdate: Wed, 14 Nov 2012
Source: Daily American (Somerset, PA)
Copyright: 2012 The Daily American
Contact:  http://www.dailyamerican.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4055
Author: Amber Rosado

NORTH STAR SCHOOL BOARD OKS DRUG TESTING PROGRAM

North Star school board members will begin a voluntary student
drug-screening program called Remembering ADAM for ninth through 12th
grades.

This program will allow students to sign up for random drug screenings
for the rest of the year. The program is meant to help students who
might be having a drug problem, but are having trouble asking for
help. It will be free to the district for the first year. The drug
screening will consist of a urine sample administered by a nurse.

Approximately 1,500 students are enrolled in Remembering ADAM, a
substance abuse prevention program dedicated to a Carrolltown teenager
who died of a heroin overdose in 1998, according to the program
website. Nearby school districts involved in the program include:
Cambria Heights, Conemaugh Valley and Portage.

Superintendent Shawn Kovac admits to being skeptical about the program
at first and whether students would sign up.

"Students that want help will volunteer and if they decide to drop out
of the program, they will be sent to a (guidance counselor) to discuss
their decision," Kovac said.

The board decided to have a presentation by representatives of
Remembering ADAM for the students before the program starts for the
remainder of the 2012-13 school year. A date has not been set for the
student presentation. The board will have a Remembering ADAM
presentation sometime before January.

During the meeting, the school board accepted a donation from friends
and family of deceased North Star student Johnny Blough. The donation
of $3,500 was raised during the annual Johnny Blough Memorial Alumni
Football Game on Nov. 3.

Martin Blough, board member and Johnny's father, said the event was a
great success.

"We had 60 people sign up for the game and 25 baskets were donated for
a raffle. We look forward to working with the board every year,"
Blough said.

The family said they would like the donation to go toward the press
box at the high school athletic field.
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MAP posted-by: Matt