Pubdate: Mon, 11 Aug 2008
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2008sPeoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Note: Does not publish letters from outside our circulation area.
Author: Steve Stein
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

MEETING TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL DRUG TESTS

Morton Parents, Students Can Learn About Program

MORTON - Parents and students can learn about Morton High  School's
new random drug testing program at a meeting  Tuesday night in the
high school's Bertha Frank  Performing Arts Center.

Students involved in extracurricular activities and  those who
purchase a campus parking pass will be  subject to the urinalysis
tests conducted by the  Tazwood Mental Health Center. Parents and
students are  required to sign a consent form for the testing if
involved in extracurricular activities. If the form is  not signed,
the student is not eligible for  extracurricular activities.

High School Activities Director Greg Pritchard, who is  overseeing the
drug testing program, will give a  presentation about the program at
the meeting, then  open the floor to questions.

"I imagine most of the questions will be about the  confidentiality of
the test results," Pritchard said.

Pritchard said only the student, parents, Principal  Dennis Johnson,
Pritchard and the extracurricular  activity's coach or sponsor will
know the results.

Under an agreement between District 709 and Tazwood  that begins Aug.
25, a minimum of 10 students will be  tested weekly, with each test
costing the district $35.  Students will be tested for alcohol,
amphetamines,  barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, creatinine,
marijuana and opiates.

Because testing is random, some students could be  tested multiple
times in a school year.

Police will not be notified of a positive drug test,  but a student
will be subject to the penalties imposed  in the appropriate athletic
or activity code. Help will  be made available, with parents bearing
the brunt of  the financial obligation.

"When a student tests positive, our No. 1 goal will be  to get the
student some assistance, though treatment  isn't mandatory," Pritchard
said.

While Pritchard has a good idea of what questions he'll  be asked
tonight, he knows he may not have all the  answers.

"If I don't have an answer, I'll get one," Pritchard
said.

Superintendent Roger Kilpatrick is certain the drug  testing program's
first year will be a learning  experience.

"We've studied what other districts have done, but  until you've done
it yourself, you really don't know  how it'll work," he said.

Kilpatrick feels comfortable with Tazwood conducting  the
testing.

"It's important that the testing is done independently  of the
district," he said. "It removes the burden from  our staff. This setup
is good for our students and  staff."

About 600 students, approximately two-thirds of the  high school's
enrollment, were involved in  extracurricular activities last school
year.

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[sidebar]

Drug testing meeting

What: Informational meeting on Morton High School's new random 
urinalysis drug testing program for students involved in 
extracurricular activities. Students who purchase a campus parking 
pass also are subject to a test.

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center at the high school, 350 N. 
Illinois Ave.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath