Pubdate: Mon, 11 Sep 2006
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)
Copyright: 2006 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.stltoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/418
Author: Shane Anthony
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

FRANCIS HOWELL SCHOOLS GET SET TO START DRUG TESTING

The Francis Howell School District will begin random  drug testing
this week for all students involved in  sports and extracurricular
activities.

More than 4,000 students, or about two-thirds of the  district, will
be in the first mandatory testing pool.  Those tapped will be checked
through random urine  testing for a variety of substances, including
marijuana, cocaine and Ecstasy. Some will be tested for  steroids.

All students in extracurricular activities are required  to be in the
random testing pool, as are all students  who have permits to park on
campus. Parents also can  place their children in the pool
voluntarily.

Francis Howell's School Board approved about $60,000 to  pay a private
firm to randomly test 20 percent of  students in the pool each week.
Officials are spending  an additional $34,000 to educate the public
about the  program.

Student drug testing is not new to the St. Louis area.  However, more
schools are considering such methods.

Collinsville High School began testing athletes this  fall. The
Illinois High School Association is  considering random testing for
steroids and growth  hormones in students who play in state finals for
  football, basketball, track and other sports.

The Fort Zumwalt district reinstated a testing program  last
year.

Fort Zumwalt Superintendent Bernard DuBray said the  School Board has
asked administrators to study the  possibility of expanding the
program to include more  students. But for now, he said, he is pleased
with the  70 to 80 percent participation rate among athletes.

"I'm surprised it has taken this long to have more  districts get
involved," DuBray said.

Officials said the tests are intended to offer help for  those who
need it and provide a deterrent for students  considering drug use.
Private schools can test all  students for drugs, but such a move in
public schools  would be unconstitutional, administrators have said.

Public schools typically have targeted athletes for  testing as a
special class of students. Francis  Howell's program, though, goes a
step further by  including students in extracurricular activities and
those with parking passes.

For a first offense, a student who tests positive for  drug use under
Francis Howell's policy would be removed  for 10 days from
extracurricular activities or lose his  or her parking pass for 10
days. The student also would  have to complete at least four weeks of
counseling.

More positive tests would result in longer removal from  activities
and more counseling.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Derek