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TRUSTEES TABLE DRUG POLICY

School trustees delayed action on a student drug testing policy Monday to examine the details.

They set a meeting for Monday, July 26, as a workshop and date to adopt a policy in its final form.

Superintendent Maxie Morgan presented a policy to the board he said was developed with the help of school district attorneys that was "similar, basically, the same as, the Troy ISD policy."

The policy, which calls for random testing of all students involved in extracurricular activities, deals a six-school-week suspension for the first offense, a 12 month suspension and drug counseling paid for by the student's family for the second and bans students from extracurricular activities for the remainder of their time in CISD on a third offense.

The list of extracurricular activities includes all UIL events, Ballet Folklorico, Class Favorites, Class Officers, FFA and Junior FFA, Flame King and Queen, Homecoming Court, Junior and Senior Prom Royalty, Science Club and all other school-sponsored activities.

"Is this the punishment we want?" Trustee Michael Watkins asked.  "Has everyone thought this all the way through? Do we want to partner with them ( families ) to help the child overcome their problem? Then if they do two years later, do we not want to ever let him back into extracurricular activities."

Trustee Curtis Hoyle said, yes, "Sometimes you have to send some tough messages."

Board member Carl Bradley made the initial call to table the policy.  "To me, the thing we need to do is table it and get together and work something out."

"I'm for drug testing," Board Member Mike Zajicek said.  "But I'll turn against it when I see we can't help these people.  I have a problem with the three strikes and you're out.  I'd like to feel better about who's going to have this information on campus.  ...  I'd rather have that in place before I approve it.

"No matter what happens, this is going to cost us money," he continued.  "I want us to do it right and I want it to be something to help people, not something to punish people."

Principal Clint McMahon said, "There's just a lot of things here, a lot of things to consider." He noted the community drug testing committee last fall expressed concerns over the consequences in the Troy policy, confidentiality and ensuring help was available for students who tested positive.

Because the final form of the policy has not been written, the cost of the program is impossible to estimate.  Each test will cost the district $20-$25 and district estimates say 80 percent of CISD students in seventh-12th grade, over 500 kids, participate in extracurricular activities.

Trustees decided to take up those issues at a July 26 special meeting, which will also include a budget workshop.

Highlights of the Currently Proposed Policy

* In order for students in seventh through 12th grade to be involved in extracurricular activities, parents must consent to their students being randomly drug tested.  Parents may choose to have their students participate even if they are not in extracurricular activities and no penalties will befall students who are tested solely under parental consent.

* Students can be tested up to 15 times a year as determined by the district.  They will be selected by a random computer program that will help ensure all students are tested at least once throughout the year.  "Under no circumstances may a representative of the district request that a specific student be selected for testing."

* May test for alcohol, amphetamines/methamphetamine, opiates ( morphine and codine ), cocaine, phencycledene ( PCP ), marijuana, ecstasy, and others

* Confirmed positive test results are "cumulative from grades 7-12.  Previous violations, regardless of elapsed time/years, shall be a precursor for determining penalties for subsequent violations."

After a Positive Test

* Student and parents or guardians will have a chance to provide information on prescription or nonprescription drugs or other relevant medical information which will be reviewed by a medical review officer who will modify or uphold the finding.

* The MRO will notify the superintendent's designee of confirmed positive results and the designee will notify the student and the parents or guardians.

First Offense Consequences

* Mandatory conference with campus principal for students and guardians

* Conference with district-employed counselor

* Must agree to mandatory testing in next three random periods

* Suspended from competition or public performance for six school weeks ( if in final six weeks of school, penalty will continue as necessary into the next school year ).  Suspension won't prevent students from competing for future offices, positions or team/squad memberships

Second Offense Consequences

* Suspended from extracurricular performances or competitions for 12 months from the date they are informed of the positive results.  Students won't be allowed to compete for future offices, positions or team/squad memberships during the 12-month suspension

* Successfully complete, at the expense of the parents or guardians, a drug counseling program approved by the superintendent's designee

* Designee shall re-admit the student into extracurricular participation after the student has successfully completed the one-year suspension and the counseling program

* If re-admitted, student must agree to mandatory testing during the next six random testing periods

Third Offense Consequence

* permanent suspension from all extracurricular participation.

To read a complete copy of the proposed drug testing policy and its administrative procedures, you may go to the link on our news page, or call the school district at 254-697-3512.