Pubdate: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2003 Sarasota Herald-Tribune Contact: http://www.newscoast.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398 Author: Jamie Manfuso Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) SCHOOLS TO CONSIDER DRUG TESTING CHARLOTTE COUNTY -- Making the varsity basketball team takes practice. So does winning the lead in a school play, or becoming drum major in the marching band. Come August 2004, they also could take a clean drug test. The county school district plans to take a hard look at drug tests for students in athletics and other extracurricular activities. Testing programs have been bolstered by a June 2002 U.S. Supreme Court opinion on an Oklahoma school district's random drug testing program. In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld testing for middle and high school students in sports and other competitive extracurricular activities. In 1995, the court also upheld random drug testing for student athletes in an Oregon school district. Adding fuel to the movement is a recent survey showing that Charlotte's students use drugs and alcohol at rates higher than others across the state. School board members said if they approve a drug-testing program, it won't be for another year and the program won't go into effect until the 2004-2005 school year. In the meantime, there are plenty of questions to answer. "I think probably the biggest concern that we're going to have is who's tested, and the confidentiality" of students, said school board member Connie Kantor. The recent Supreme Court opinion didn't endorse testing for all students, but some school districts have gone beyond extracurriculars and tested students who get other privileges. In the Columbia County school district, in North Florida, any student who gets a parking pass can be tested. "I don't know whether we would go that far or not," said school board member Lee Swift. "I certainly don't see anything wrong with that." Keeping drug test results confidential also poses problems. How do schools explain if a star quarterback is booted off the football team because he tested for marijuana? The questions go on: Would testing be random or triggered by suspicious behavior? What would be the penalties for testing positive? Would students be tested year-round? School officials say they will need community input to answer those questions. Binky Waldrop, football coach at Charlotte High School, said he's in favor of the testing program if there's funding for it. But he said he wouldn't want to see students kicked off a team after one positive test. "I think the first time they would need to go into a counseling program, and then there would have to be more severe repercussions if it happened for the second time," Waldrop said. At least eight Florida school districts have drug testing programs. Neither Sarasota nor Manatee county school districts have student drug testing programs, but Manatee High School has had random testing for student athletes since 1996. Several area private schools also test students for drugs and alcohol. Supporters of testing say it allows students to deflect peer pressure to use drugs. The looming threat of a drug test gives them an easy and acceptable excuse to turn down drugs. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have criticized random drug testing as a violation of students' rights to privacy. They also doubt that random testing curbs drug use. "The irony here is that the best way to prevent drug use among students is to get them involved in extracurricular activities," said Randall Marshall, legal director for ACLU of Florida. The group doesn't oppose testing where there's reasonable suspicion a student is using drugs or alcohol. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Education Association and the National Association of Social Workers have opposed random drug testing of students in extracurriculars. Kantor said she's recognizes that a drug-testing policy might keep some kids out of programs that are good for them. "We want to be careful not to solve one problem at the expense of the other," Kantor said. "We use extracurriculars to keep kids in school." Sidebar: Examples Of Drug Testing Programs Columbia County (adopted October 2002) * Who's tested: Students grades six to 12 who are in extracurricular activities or have parking permits. * How selected: Randomly, through a lottery drawing. * Penalties: After the first positive test, students may be banned from activities or driving privileges for a year. But if they agree to enter a counseling program, that ban is reduced to 10 days. The consequences get stiffer with more positive tests. * Confidentiality: Test results are not part of students' academic records, and are destroyed upon graduation or completion of eighth grade. Santa Rosa County (since fall 1997) * Who's tested: Student athletes grades seven to 12. The school district may test band members next year and students in other extracurriculars in following years. * How selected: On a team basis, randomly, or based on reasonable suspicion, during the school year. * Penalties: After one positive test, students are suspended from all interscholastic athletics for up to four weeks, and must enter counseling. Upon a second positive test, students are suspended for a year after the end of that athletic season. * Results: Of 1,500 students tested over five years, 25 have tested positive. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk