Pubdate: Wed, 13 Dec 2006
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Andrew C. Martel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

SCHOOLS OK DRUG TESTS FOR STUDENTS

Cumberland County students will have to agree to take a drug test 
next year before they join a sports team or some extracurricular groups.

The county Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to start a 
random drug testing program in the high schools.

Not all students will be tested. About 50 percent of the students 
from randomly selected schools will be required to take the test over 
the course of the first year, said Kathy Dickson, the associate 
superintendent for administrative services.

The school system has received a four-year, $1.2 million grant from 
the U.S. Department of Education to conduct the tests.

One student likened the policy to randomly searching girls' purses 
for illegal items.

"I think it's an invasion of privacy," said Karla Capacetti, the 
Student Government Association president of South View High School. 
Capacetti was a student representative at the board's meeting.

Dickson said that administrators considered privacy concerns. But the 
drug-testing program will give students an easy excuse to refuse 
drugs, even when pressured by their friends, she said.

All students and their parents must sign a consent form starting next 
year before they will be allowed on any athletic team or competitive 
extracurricular activity, such as marching bands or debate teams.

Students will be selected by a computer program and required to 
submit a urine sample on the day they are informed. If they refuse, 
they will be considered to have tested positive.

The tests will screen for a range of drugs, including prescription 
drugs and illegal substances. Athletes' samples will also be tested 
for performance-enhancing drugs.

Penalties for positive tests range from a one-week suspension from 
activities for a first offense to a permanent ban from 
extracurricular activities for the third. All students will be 
required to attend counseling.

There are no academic penalties, and only principals will be informed 
if a student fails.

Students can appeal a positive drug test, first to Superintendent 
Bill Harrison and then to the Board of Education.

Board member Frank Barrigan said he would like to see reports on 
whether the drug tests are effective. In four years, the board will 
have to decide whether it wants to spend its own money to continue drug testing.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman