Pubdate: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 Source: Rockford Register Star (IL) Copyright: 2008 GateHouse Media, Inc. Contact: http://www.rrstar.com/contact Website: http://www.rrstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/370 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL TO TEST STUDENTS FOR DRUGS, ALCOHOL SPRING VALLEY - Hall High School's drug testing policy was approved Wednesday night by the School Board with a vote of 6-0, with one member absent. "The next step now is to educate parents and students in regards to how the policy will be implemented and administered," Superintendent Mike Struna said. "We'll send out a newsletter this spring and meet with parents and students next fall at parent/athlete meetings to accomplish that." During the past four months, Struna has solicited public opinion to draft the drug policy. It's been revised to enforce the same punishment for students who test positive for nicotine and for those found guilty of using illegal drugs. The School Board also expanded the policy to include all extracurricular groups, which brings about 80 percent of the student body into the testing pool. Students participating in activities will be periodically subject to random testing for substances throughout the year. "Next month we'll hire an agency to conduct the testing," Struna said. "I think this is a positive step forward to give students another good excuse to say no to drugs." In the past five years, Hall High school has suspended seven students for drug and alcohol use and expelled five. Struna plans to implement the policy by August. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek