Source:  The Herald Everett, Washington, USA
Contact:  July 3, 1997

Students may get drug tests

Granite Falls School Board to vote on screening policy for all 
district's athletes

By Eric Stevick and John McDonald, Herald Writers

	GRANITE FALLS  Student athletes in the granite Falls 
School District may be required to take drug tests beginning next 
fall.
	The Granite Falls School District has been considering a 
drug test policy since March and the school board would vote on it 
as early as July 24.
	In doing so, Granite Falls could become the only public 
school district in Snohomish County and one of a handful across the 
state to require the urinalysis drugscreening procedure.
	Granite Falls schools' superintendent Gary Wall started 
considering the idea after hearing community concerns during a 
series of neighborhood meetings. It wasn't a case of Granite Falls 
being more druginfested than other areas but a desire to help the 
district's young people, Wall said.
	"Our (student survey) data on drug use shows we are about 
the same as everywhere else but we don't like what it says," Wall 
said Wednesday.
	Wall said the policy, as it is now proposed, is meant to be 
preventative and educational rather than disciplinary. Students who 
test positive wouldn't be suspended from school.
	They would be allowed to remain on the team and practice 
but would be excluded from participating in athletic events for a 
month.  They would also be referred to a school drug and alcohol 
counselor.
	The district still has several unanswered questions. It 
doesn't know if the tests would be random or given to all students. 
Nor does it know how it will finance the program or if tests would be 
given to middle school students.
	If the district decides on the testing, it will have to decide 
what to test for. There are three options, ranging from a $13.50 test 
for marijuana, amphetamines and cocaine, to an $18.00 test for 
nearly a dozen drugs and alcohol.
	Wall categorizes public opinion into three groups: those 
who support testing because they believe it will help and is fair for 
students who already abide by athletic codes, those who believe it 
will give students a reason to say not to drugs, and those who 
oppose it, saying it unfairly singles out athletics and not other 
activities.
	Wall said the district is limiting the drug tests to athletes 
because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that public schools 
can require students to take drug tests a a condition of playing 
sports. It did not extend its ruling to other activities, such as drama, 
band and choir.
	Mike Colbrese, executive director of the Washington 
Interscholastic Activities Association, the governing body for high 
school sports in the state, said his organization has no official policy 
on drug testing for student athletes.
	"We leave it up to the individual district," Colbrese said.
	He could think of only four districts in the state which 
conduct drug testing. He ranked them in order of aggressive to least 
aggressive as BurlingtonEdison, Taholah, Orcas Island and Lewis 
& Clark, which has voluntary testing.
	In the BurlingtonEdison district, the drug policy includes 
athletic and nonathletic activities, said Bob Penny, the district's 
director of personnel and secondary programs.
	"Even if it's challenged, we believe it's the right thing to do,"

Penny said.
	"We really want the students to understand what 
accountability means," he added.
	"BurlingtonEdison has been contacted by many other 
districts interested in its program," he said.
	Cascade High School athletic director Terry Ennis said the 
Everett School District has no drug testing policy.
	"We're watching those that are doing that," Ennis said. 
"Many are doing it by way of grants received."
	He also mentioned the four districts named by Colbrese.
	"I have not talked to any of those coaches directly," Ennis 
said. "I've heard comments pro and con. Everybody is receptive to 
coming up with a solution to drug and alcohol abuse. Part of it is the 
money factor, very clearly."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Public hearing

	The Granite Falls School Board has set a public forum for 7 p.m. 
July 22 in the high school multipurpose room, 405 N. Alder Ave., to hear 
comments about a proposed drug testing policy for student athletes.
	The board has discussed the issue for several months and is 
anxious to hear from residents, said Gary Wall, the district's
superintendent.
	Those who can't attend the forum can write P.O. Box 9, Granite 
Falls 98252, or call the administration office at 3606917717.
	The school board could vote on the measure as early as July 24.