Pubdate: Tue, 22 Oct 2002
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: Jessica Raynor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DIMMITT REINSTATES DRUG POLICY

DIMMITT -- Dimmitt Independent School District reinstated its random 
drug-testing policy last week, with some revisions, said Les Miller, 
Dimmitt ISD superintendent.

All seventh-through 12th-grade students in extracurricular activities will 
be tested on Nov. 4, 5 and 6, and the school will test students randomly 
throughout the year, Miller said.

"(Now) we're really trying to emphasize the counseling portion of it," 
Miller said. "We're trying not to make it punitive as such, but more of a 
deterrent policy."

The school district had suspended the policy in April 2001 while it waited 
for rulings in pending lawsuits challenging the legality of such programs. 
A Supreme Court ruling in June affirmed schools' right to test students in 
extracurricular activities.

Dimmitt's revised policy dictates that parents are now required to attend 
outside counseling sessions with their children who test positive, Miller said.

"We're trying to work that up how that is going to be completed," he said.

Students also will be tested for nicotine in addition to alcohol and 
narcotics, Miller said. Those who test positive for nicotine will not be 
subject to district punishment, he said.

"We're turning that (the results) over to parents, coaches and sponsors," 
he said. "The coaches and sponsors will deal with it within their activities."

Students who test positive once will have to go through counseling and also 
be subject to mandatory testing throughout the year, Miller said.

The second positive test will result in a 60-day suspension from activities 
in addition to the counseling, he said.

If a student tests positive three or more times, that student cannot 
participate in activities for year from the date he tests positive, Miller 
said.

"It goes back to whatever we can give the kids a way to say no," Miller 
said. "(The policy) is another tool for them to say no."

Miller said at the time the district suspended the policy that he was 
confident the district would restore it. The Supreme Court ruling cleared 
the way for Dimmitt as well as other districts to create or resume 
drug-testing policies.

"You can't (drug-test) everybody," he said. "Everyone is entitled to a free 
appropriate education. You are not entitled to the extracurricular 
activities. That's a privilege, not a right."
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MAP posted-by: Jackl