Pubdate: Thu, 14 Sep 2000
Source: Casper Star-Tribune (WY)
Copyright: 2000 Casper Star-Tribune
Contact:  P.O. Box 80, Casper, WY 82602-0080
Fax: (307) 266-0568
Website: http://www.trib.com/

GILLETTE SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGES DRUG TESTING PROGRAM

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) - The Gillette school district has made it harder for
students who use drugs to participate in extracurricular activities.

First, any test that appears to be tampered with will be treated as a
"positive" instead of thrown out as they were last year, Activities Director
Cliff Hill told school trustees.

The district had several such tests in 1999-2000, Hill said.

Students with suspicious tests must prove their innocence by taking another
test at their own expense. If the second test is negative, the district will
reimburse the student.

Otherwise, the student will undergo counseling and not be allowed to
participate for several contests, depending on the activity.

The second change allows activity students to be tested if a coach or
sponsor has "reasonable suspicion" that they are using drugs, even if they
are not selected in the random pool.

If the coach, the building principal and an activities director believe the
suspicions are reasonable, they will discuss it with the parents. Then the
student will be tested. If they refuse, the student will not be allowed to
participate.

Trustee Burke Jackson wanted to know the difference for "reasonable
suspicion" of a student in the classroom and a student in extracurricular
activities.

"Activities are a privilege and education is a right," Hill said Monday. If
a teacher suspects a classroom student of taking drugs, the student could be
searched or possibly suspended. But officials cannot force the student to
undergo a drug test.

With students in activities, they can be tested for those types of
indicators to make sure the sport is safe and to protect participating
students, Hill said.
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