Pubdate: Sun, 14 Mar 2004
Source: Bristol Herald Courier (VA)
Copyright: 2004 Bristol Herald Courier
Contact: http://www.bristolnews.com/contact.html
Website: http://www.bristolnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1211
Author: Diette Courrege
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SOME DOUBT DRUG POLICY WILL ACCOMPLISH OBJECTIVE

BRISTOL, Va. - Virginia High School freshman Jeremy Talley says he will 
quit football next year if he's forced to take a random drug test.

And he thinks others may follow suit.

But junior Jimmy Hall said he thinks the testing will boost sports programs 
because it would force athletes to take their sport seriously and avoid 
drugs and alcohol.

Random drug testing for students involved in extracurricular activities has 
become the most controversial piece of the School Board's new comprehensive 
drug and alcohol policy.

High school and eighth-grade junior varsity students who test positive for 
drugs or alcohol twice will be barred from participating in any 
extracurricular activity for the remainder of their enrollment.

"Two strikes is too quick," said Lester Byington, track coach for the high 
school. "It's going to turn a lot of them off to athletics. Everything 
about (the policy) is good except that two strikes is too harsh."

The policy changed to two strikes after a number of board members expressed 
concerns that three strikes were one too many. If students haven't learned 
a lesson after testing positive twice, little reason exists to allow their 
participation in extracurricular activities, said board Chairman John Kieffer.

Others said they felt the same way.

"I think we need to put teeth into this (policy)," said Randy White, a 
board member. "Two positive drug tests within 30 days - that's a big 
problem there."

But two members, Jaymie Derden and Virginia Goodson, said they believe the 
policy would be more punitive than helpful.

The board compromised by keeping the two strikes and allowing students to 
appeal to the board after 18 months for permission to rejoin 
extracurricular activities with proof that they no longer were using drugs 
or alcohol.

"We wanted to have a remedial policy, but on the other hand ... we wanted a 
certain and quick consequence to flow from repeated use of drugs," Kieffer, 
the chairman, said.

The appeal to the board would allow students to demonstrate they've 
rehabilitated, he said.

School Board Vice Chairman Butch Tolley voted against the policy, in part 
because it contained random drug testing.

"I'm not against a drug and alcohol policy at all, but I'm not for any 
policy that's going to single out any group of students," he said. "I think 
all students should be treated the same. I felt like (the policy) was for 
all students, but all students were not being treated equally."

Some parents said they felt like focusing only on those involved in 
extracurricular activities meant that other students would miss out on 
much-needed help.

"I think we're missing a key group," said Kevin Meade, Van Pelt Elementary 
School's PTA president. "Can these dollars be used to support the whole 
school?"

The Supreme Court has ruled that schools may conduct random drug testing on 
students involved in extracurriculars because the students voluntarily 
choose to participate. It's a violation of students' rights to test 
everyone because going to school is not a choice, the court ruled.

Still, many students said they felt like it was unfair for the policy to 
target those who participate in extracurricular activities.

"Isn't that what extracurriculars are for - to keep you out of drugs?" 
asked Brandon Whitt, a freshman football player. "It think it's really 
going to affect how many people will play sports."

Students debated whether drugs were more of a problem with those who 
participated in extracurricular activities.

"There's a lot more problems with people who play sports," said Mitch 
Morrow, a football player and junior.

"I think the problems are everywhere," countered Jerry Goodpasture, a 
senior soccer player.

Statistics show that in about the past four years, the board has had 32 
student hearings on drug- and alcohol-related problems.

Of the 32, only four students participated in extracurricular activities 
and would be subject to random drug testing.

Virginia High principal Ina Danko said drug incidents occur infrequently.

"We deal with attendance, tardiness and complacency every day," she said. 
"We address the drug issue when needed, but it's not something we deal with 
every day."

Board members said a need exists for a comprehensive policy because drugs 
have become an issue in the community, which translates into an issue for 
schools.

"The extent (of the problem) may be beside the point in that a lot of 
students and their parents are worried about drugs," said Kieffer, the 
board chairman. "If they are, then we ought to do something to allay their 
concerns."

Students also took issue with the suspension time after a first drug 
offense. Students will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular 
activities for 30 days, and then they will be tested again.

"If you miss 30 days, your season is pretty much over," said Matt Grimm, a 
senior football player. "A coach isn't going to come back and let you play 
after that."

Kieffer said board members have taken their time in creating a thoughtful 
and thorough policy. Establishing the policy has been a board goal for the 
past four years, but the actual work on putting it together has been under 
way since the beginning of the school year.

"It took some time for several reasons," Kieffer said. "None of us had ever 
done this before, and we wanted to have input from as many groups as possible."

An ongoing problem in creating the policy had been the absence of feedback 
from the public.

"One thing we have been disappointed in is the extent of public involvement 
and parents in developing this policy," he said. "While we appreciate the 
input we've gotten, we haven't seen much from the rank-and-file parents who 
are more affected than anyone else. We wish we could have had more from 
parents, but we're doing the best we can with what we've got."

Regardless of the policy's cost, method and intent, some said they didn't 
feel like it ultimately accomplished its objective - to help solve the 
problem of drugs and alcohol in school.

"I think it's pointless because kids are going to do what they're going to 
do," said Jerry, the soccer player. "Everyone knows smoking is bad, but 
half the people here do it anyway."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager