Pubdate: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 Source: Blade, The (Toledo, OH) Copyright: 2006 The Blade Contact: http://www.toledoblade.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/48 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PORT CLINTON CITY SCHOOLS Drug Tests On Way For Drivers, Athletes New Policy In Effect As Classes Begin PORT CLINTON - Student drivers who park in the school lot must stay clean this year, and that doesn't mean washing their cars. Random drug testing at Port Clinton City Schools will involve not only students who park their cars at school, but also those who participate in sports or other extracurricular activities. "The Board of Education felt that we have to make sure our students are safe and drug-free," Superintendent Pat Adkins said. "I think it's important to note it's not a cure-all to drug use." The board approved the policy Aug. 22. Classes began Monday. Greg Bartels, 17, who sings in choir and drives to school, said he supports the decision, but he questioned whether the drug testing would lead to other forms of "intrusion" into students' lives. "I have no problem with it," he said. "I'm glad to see the involvement of the school." Another student, Jessica Dugan, 17, expressed mixed feelings, but said she's not worried about random tests because "I don't do any of this stuff." Miss Dugan, who is a member of several academic clubs, said drug testing will help ensure that other students are staying clean as well. For 10 years, the school district has employed a substance-abuse coordinator to counsel students and to educate them on drug and alcohol issues, Mr. Adkins said. The board held community forums before approving drug testing. Mr. Adkins said three-fourths of the people who spoke up supported the issue. Others voiced concerns over the potential infringement of parental rights. About 30 percent of the high school's 650 students were issued parking passes last year, said Jan Gluth, spokesman for the Port Clinton district. Neither the Ohio School Board Association nor the Ohio High School Athletic Association keeps track of the number of schools that require drug tests for students or athletes. Scott Ebright, spokesman for the school board association, said school drug testing is an issue that "seems to come and go." He said some districts dropped the program after implementing it for a year or two when testing failed to uncover offenders. "Most try to do it as a preventative measure and not as a punitive measure," he said. Bob Golding, spokesman for the athletic association, said testing costs can be a deterrent to schools considering doing so. He said testing of student-athletes is an issue each school district must decide on its own. "We have never considered a statewide mandate," he said. The drug tests will be randomly administered to up to 20 percent of the students every two weeks. The school board estimates the tests will cost between $8,000 and $10,000 a year and will cost $27 each. If a student tests positive for drugs or alcohol, the disciplinary policy outlined in the student handbook will be used, he said. "We're not trying to be parents," Mr. Adkins said. "We want to make sure we're doing everything possible to make sure drugs stay out of the school system." The Rossford Board of Education this summer approved implementing a drug-testing policy and plans to name an outside agency to administer the testing. Genoa has had a policy in place for athletes attending the district's middle and high schools since fall, 2003, while in Erie County, the Margaretta Local School District announced a plan to institute a drug-testing policy this year for students in grades seven through 12 who participate in athletics or drive to school. Otsego, Lake, and North Baltimore schools have had programs for several years. Otsego charges student-athletes for mandatory preseason drug tests, but the board picks up the cost for random testing throughout the year. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman