Pubdate: Tue, 07 Mar 2006
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
Copyright: 2006 Richmond Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365
Author: Andrew Petkofsky, Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG-TESTING PROPOSAL BEING WEIGHED

Would Apply To Many Students In James City County, Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG -- The Williamsburg-James City County  School Board has 
scheduled a vote tonight on a  controversial proposal to require 
random drug and  alcohol tests for many students.

Under the measure, all high school students who take  part in 
competitive extracurricular activities or drive  a car to school 
would be subject to the random urine  tests.

The testing system was first proposed by Superintendent  Gary S. 
Mathews and later modified following a public  hearing and School 
Board work session.

Mathews said in an interview that the high incidence of  expulsion 
for drug and alcohol violations in the past  six months -- 33 
expulsions from a high school  population of about 3,000 -- has 
convinced him the testing is necessary.

"We have a brewing problem here," said Mathews, who  started his job 
in July. "The problem here is greater  than what I saw elsewhere."

The proposal has generated hot debate locally, with  supporters and 
opponents making both reasoned and  emotional arguments in two public 
hearings, letters to  the editors of local newspapers and even in 
paid advertisements.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, while  granting that 
the proposal seems to pass muster under  recent Supreme Court 
decisions, says the testing  program is an unnecessary infringement 
on students'  privacy.

"This is the government, in the form of the schools,  invading the 
privacy of students," said Kent Willis,  executive director of the 
state ACLU chapter.

Random drug testing is employed by only six school  systems in 
Virginia, according to Mathews, and none  extends the test 
requirement beyond students involved  in extracurricular activities.

"We have a compelling interest that kids drive to  school without 
being under the influence," Mathews  said.

Critics of the proposal have argued that research has  not shown that 
drug testing has any deterrent effect on  student drug use, but they 
also acknowledge there  hasn't been enough research to settle the question.

Mathews said he has interviewed students in Lynchburg,  where the 
high schools have tested athletes for drugs  for 18 years, and has 
concluded the tests deter  students from drug use.

Under the proposal, a student who tests positive for  drug or alcohol 
use would face a two-week suspension  from extracurricular activity 
and attend at least five  sessions with a school counselor.

A second positive test would bring the same  consequences plus a 
requirement to complete an  out-of-school substance abuse program. 
Third-timers  would be suspended from extracurricular activities and 
driving to school for a year.

School officials say the program, if adopted, would  cost $6,000 to 
$12,000 per year and be financed with  federal Safe and Drug Free 
Schools grant money.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman