Pubdate: Wed, 16 May 2007
Source: Central Kentucky News Journal (Campbellsville, KY)
Copyright: 2007 Central Kentucky News Journal
Contact:  http://www.cknj.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1479
Author: James Roberts, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

COUNTY SCHOOLS CONSIDER STUDENT DRUG TESTING

Taylor County students who participate in  extracurricular school 
activities may soon face random  drug tests.

At last week's regular meeting of the Taylor County  School Board, 
Debbie Hinton, a Taylor County High  School teacher and member of the 
school culture  committee, asked Board members to consider such a 
policy, which she says will curb drug use.

"Research has shown that random drug testing has  diminished drug use 
in middle and high schools - up to  85 percent," she said.

In addition, Hinton said, the possibility of being  tested gives 
students an easy way to say "No" to peer  pressure.

Currently, Campbellsville Independent Schools randomly  tests its 
athletes. Taylor County Schools has never  implemented drug testing, 
though some of its athletes  have volunteered for the test in past years.

As of last May, Hinton said, 81 Kentucky schools  conduct some type 
of drug testing. Of those schools,  half have random drug testing. Of 
the counties that  border Taylor, only Casey and Green conduct drug 
testing in at least one school.

While TCHS' school culture committee is looking at a  drug testing 
policy, Hinton asked that a committee of  high school, middle school 
and central office staff be  appointed to form a district-wide policy.

It's important that the policy be district-wide and not  just at the 
high school, said Karen Hayes, project  director of the 
Campbellsville/Taylor County Anti-Drug  Coalition.

"Drug use begins at 12 years old," Hayes said. "This is  why the 
policy needs to be district-wide."

With the easy availability of prescription drugs, Hayes  said, more 
children may be exposed to drug use. The  earlier they begin to use 
drugs, she said, the more  likely they are to move on to harder drugs 
later in  life.

Hayes presented findings of the 2006 Kentucky  Incentives for 
Prevention survey, which suggests 7  percent of Taylor County's 
eighth graders and 18  percent of Taylor County's seniors have tried 
marijuana. As for prescription abuse, 8 percent of  eighth graders 
and 15 percent of seniors say they've  taken medicine not prescribed for them.

Taylor County School Board Chairman Tony Davis said  some students 
fake their answers, seeking to impress  other students. Because of 
this, Davis suggested, the  KIP data isn't an accurate reflection of drug use.

However, Hayes said, students do not have an  opportunity to share 
their answers with their peers.  After completing the survey, they 
immediately seal it  and place it in an envelope.

As for those who simply circle answers without reading  the 
questions, a few questions appear more than once  and are worded 
differently each time.

There is also a measure to identify students who  falsely answer the 
survey as if they've taken several  drugs. Hayes said one question 
asks students if they've  used a particular prescription drug. That 
drug, she  said, isn't real.

How students respond to these questions, Hayes said,  determines 
whether or not their survey results are  discarded.

TCMS Principal C.D. Harvey said drug use is a growing problem.

"We are seeing more and more drug-related activity at  Taylor County 
Middle School. Custodians are finding  drugs on the school grounds. 
It's not just a school  problem, it's a community problem."

If a random drug-testing policy is implemented, only  students who 
participate in extracurricular activities,  such as sports and clubs, 
would be placed into the  testing pool. The Supreme Court, Hinton 
said, will not  allow the general student population to be tested, 
only  those participating in voluntary activities.

While this means every student cannot be tested, Hinton  said, most 
will. About 80 percent of Taylor County  Schools' students 
participate in an extracurricular  activity, she said.

The test results have no application to academics or  law 
enforcement. A student who tests positive for drugs  is only limited 
or prohibited from participating in  extracurricular activities.

According to the Kentucky School Boards Association, as  long as a 
student does not violate another school rule,  the student will not 
face school discipline and will  not have their grades or academic 
standing affected.

The only way legal repercussions could occur, Hinton  said, is if the 
student brings drugs to school.

"If they have drugs on them, that is a violation."

If a student tests positive, a follow-up would be  performed to 
determine if the student is on any type of  medication.

The process would be completely random, Hinton said.  The labs 
performing the test would not know the names  of the students. 
Samples would only be identified by a  number. Only school officials 
would know which student  corresponds to which number.

Hinton said Premier Drug Testing in Russell Springs  would test 15 
percent of the students in the pool three  times a year for $25 per 
test. Bluegrass Drug Testing  in Campbellsville will do the same. 
Taylor County  Anti-Drug Coalition will donate $1,000 for testing, she said.

There are several methods of testing, Hinton said, but  the committee 
would likely recommend a urine test.

Davis said if a plan is put in writing, the Board would  forward it 
to the Kentucky School Boards Association  for review.

The Board also appointed a committee of representatives  from the 
middle school, the high school and central  office.

Also at last week's meeting

- - Parents Shirley Cox and Michelle Magness told the  Board that 
students with disabilities don't have access  to the playground at 
Taylor County Elementary School.  There is no pathway from the school 
to the playground  for non-ambulatory students. Until recently, 
disabled  students had no playground equipment that they could  use.

Superintendent Gary Seaborne said a feasibility study  should be 
underway soon and the Board will have cost  estimates in the near future.

Davis said the Board would try to find more playground  equipment for 
disabled students.

- - The Board approved state-set pay raises for certified  and 
classified employees. Certified staff will receive  a flat $3,000 
raise, while classified staff get a 5  percent raise. In addition, 
state lawmakers added two  instructional days to the school calendar 
starting with  the upcoming year.

- - The Board accepted an $84,500 state allocation for  textbooks. 
Seaborne said the district need is $122,000.  The District, he said, 
will pay the difference from the  general fund.

- - The Board approved 2007-2008 activity budgets for the  elementary, 
middle and high schools. These funds pay  for sporting events, trips 
and other extracurricular  activities.

TCES will begin the year with $1,317 and will take in  an estimated 
$14,100. The school expects to spend  $11,600. TCMS will begin the 
year with $28,020 and will  take in an estimated $135,725. The school 
expects to  spend $134,314. TCHS will begin the year with $120,977 
and will take in an estimated $352,632. The school  expects to spend $390,840.

Personnel:

New hire - Billie Jo Cecil, functional mental  disability aide.

Leave of absence - Laura Gordon, TCMS chorus/arts and  humanities teacher.

Resignations - Debbie McFall, TCMS dance team coach;  Lois 
Montgomery, TCMS head volleyball coach; and Tammy  Rakes, TCMS cook/baker.

Retirements - Carolyn Yaden, TCES instructional  assistant.

Letters of non-renewal for the 2007-2008 school year

Certified employees - Brandy Abell, Linda Clark,  Rebecca Kelly, 
Michelle Murphy, Angela Rakes and Tara  Underwood.

Classified employees - Kathy Crain
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom