Pubdate: Tue, 03 May 2005
Source: Enid News & Eagle (OK)
Copyright: Enid News & Eagle 2005
Contact:  http://www.enidnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2012
Author: Cindy Allen

PROPOSED DRUG POLICY OK'D BY EPS BOARD

Enid Public Schools officials expect to have a full public hearing in two
weeks on a drug testing policy that would drug test students in eighth
through 12th grades who want to participate in extracurricular activities.

Enid Board of Education members approved the proposed policy and consent
form on first reading at their Monday night meeting. The proposal still is
under legal review by the law firm of Rostenstein, Fist and Ring-old. The
first reading basically serves as public notice the board will vote on the
policy in the future.

The second reading and public hearing will be 7 p.m. May 16 at Hayes
Elementary School.

The policy and consent form were developed by a student testing committee
commissioned by the board.

"The committee will be there to answer questions," Superintendent Kem
Keithly told the board. "We'll bill that as a public hearing. The agenda
will be shorter."

The initial round of testing would be paid for through a $25,000 grant from
the Champlin Foundation. Numerous model policies were reviewed and studied
in developing the proposal.

By law, only students who want to participate in extracurricular activities
can be tested for drugs. Extracurricular activities are considered a
privilege, while attendance at school is mandatory.

The proposed policy governs tobacco, alcohol, illegal and
performance-enhancing drug use by students participating in extracurricular
activities, as governed by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities
Association.

However, board President David Meara pointed out the original testing will
be primarily a seven-panel or a nine-panel test. That would not include
performance-enhancing drugs. How-ever, if it was determined a student needed
to be randomly tested for performance-enhancing drugs, that test could
include the higher-priced test for those substances.

Cost for the initial testing of students beginning in fall 2005 would be
around $17,000, Keithly said. After that, random tests could range from
around $15 on up, depending on what substances might be tested for.

According to the proposed policy, parents and students would be notified of
an initial positive finding. That positive finding would be verified, and
parents and students would be contacted to determine if there are any
mitigating circumstances for the finding.

Students and parents would be required to sign a consent form allowing the
district to conduct the drug test. Prior to the beginning of drug testing
each year, an orientation session will be held with each activity student to
educate them to the sample collection process, privacy arrangements and drug
testing procedures. 
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MAP posted-by: Josh