Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jun 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Elaine D. Briseno
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SCHOOL BOARD HEARS PLAN FOR DRUG TESTING

The unveiling of Rio Rancho school district's proposed random 
drug-testing policy for its eighth-through 12th-grade athletes was 
met with no opposition and supported by three board members.

Bruce Carver, the district's athletic director, presented the draft 
policy to the board Monday night for its first reading, which gives 
board members a chance to ask questions and propose changes. The 
policy must go through a second reading before the board can take an 
official vote.

Board president Don Schlichte and members Ramon Montano and Martha 
Janssen, however, said they were in favor of the policy. Catherine 
Cullen was absent and Ryan Parra did not express an opinion.

"I think this is necessary," Janssen said. "Drug abuse is not 
acceptable under any circumstances."

The policy, Carver said, would protect students from injury, deter 
them from using drugs and alcohol and also give them a tool to resist 
peer pressure.

He said the program would cost the district $20,000 to $25,000 a 
year. He said 22 of the district's 28 head coaches are in favor of a 
drugtesting policy.

Cleveland boys basketball coach Brian Smith was among four head 
coaches who spoke in favor of the policy.

"It gives students a way to resist peer pressure," Smith said. "Let 
us be their out. They are able to say, 'No, I can't do that. I might 
be tested.'"

The Rio Rancho Public Schools Board in 2007 entertained the idea of a 
drug-testing policy but the proposal was met with opposition and 
eventually died. The 2007 policy included all students in 
extracurricular activities.

The current proposal would initially only apply to athletes.

"I think it says something that this is coming from the coaches who 
are boots on the ground with these kids," Schlichte said. "That's a 
very positive sign. I support this."

Montano said he was glad the coaches were tackling a districtwide 
problem of drug use and supports the policy. But he was critical of 
the procedure used to draft it.

"I wanted to see more parent and community involvement," he said. "We 
need to get buy-in from them. They should have been part of this process."

Students would be chosen at random to be tested for up to 10 
substances, including steroids, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, 
amphetamines and alcohol.

Tests will be done with a saliva swab by a private company.

According to the proposed policy, students who test positive will not 
be permanently barred from participation.

"They are going to have a chance to redeem themselves," Carver said. 
"We are not going to throw them to the wolves or cut their heads off. 
They get another chance."

Students who tested positive would be suspended for 20 consecutive 
activity days, would be required to participate in a conference with 
coaches and parents, and must attend counseling. Consequences would 
be more severe on the second violation, and students would be 
permanently banned from playing sports with RRPS after a third violation.

If the policy passes, RRPS would be the first public school district 
in the metro area to drugtest its athletes. Several school districts 
in the southern part of the state, including Hobbs, Carlsbad and 
Artesia, have drug-testing policies. Carver was the former director 
of athletics in Hobbs and initiated its drug-testing policy.

The policy will most likely come back for its second reading during 
the July 6 board meeting.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom