Pubdate: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2005 The Dallas Morning News Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: Marissa Alanis Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SCHOOL BOARD EXPECTED TO CONTRACT WITH DRUG TESTING COMPANY Grapevine-Colleyville: Students In Activities To Be Screened Randomly The Grapevine-Colleyville school board is expected to approve a contract Monday night that allows a drug testing company based in Tyler to screen students for illicit drugs, including steroids. The school district will recommend T.H.E. Lab, which performs drug testing for up to 10 colleges and more than 40 school districts in Texas. It conducts steroid testing for local districts such as Mesquite, Rockwall and Forney. Grapevine-Colleyville will implement random, unannounced drug testing starting this fall to students involved in sports and other activities. The decision to test came after The Dallas Morning News reported in February that nine Colleyville Heritage High athletes, seven of them football players, admitted that they had used steroids during the previous school year. The recommendation calls for a one-year contract with the option to renew annually for four years. Four other companies vied for the contract. T.H.E. Lab charges $13.50 per student for a drugs and alcohol test and $115 per student for an anabolic steroid test. The district has budgeted $27,000 to pay for the tests and will not pass along costs to parents through additional activity fees. The district's drug policy calls for testing 10 percent to 40 percent of those students involved in high school activities for all illicit drugs. Tom Thompson, director of T.H.E. Lab, said he is pleased about the recommendation. "I hope it's because of my experience overall with drug testing and particularly testing athletes and students," said Mr. Thompson, who has been in the drug testing business for 27 years. In an e-mail, Danette Murray, the district's director of purchasing, said the district is recommending the firm for several reasons including the cost, the company's job performance based on references and experience with state school districts. Mr. Thompson said administrators also might have recommended his company because of its lab in Lewisville. He said the company opened the lab so it could more easily serve the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Mr. Thompson said the district asked for a comprehensive bid proposal including such requirements as proof of certification and employee resumes. "It was one of the most complex bids I've seen in high school and college drug testing," Mr. Thompson said. He said he thinks the proposal was detailed because the district wants to be confident about its selection. "It's not real comforting to have your school district plastered all over TV about steroid use," he said. "I think they're just trying to cover all their bases." Board Vice President Nancy Coplen said she would review factors such as cost and the company's location in making her decision. Ms. Coplen said she also wants to check the references T.H.E. Lab received from school districts and inquire about how the drug testing will be administered on campuses. Mr. Thompson said one challenge some school districts have faced in the first year of testing is remaining consistent with their drug policies and any sanctions imposed. "If you have a weak administrator, one that doesn't know the policy and one that will let other people influence their decision -- be it their faculty, coaches or parents -- then they're going to open themselves for problems," Mr. Thompson said. He said the person who writes the drug policy usually serves as the program administrator, who will implement sanctions and meet with parents. Grapevine-Colleyville joins at least 22 North Texas districts that have mandatory drug-testing programs, a recent News survey showed. At least eight of those test for steroids. Parents and students can learn about the new drug-testing program at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Colleyville Heritage High. District officials will educate attendees about the policy and how testing will be implemented. District spokeswoman Robin McClure said parents can also learn how to place their students in a voluntary pool for testing. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth