Pubdate: Sat, 28 Feb 2009
Source: Bonner County Daily Bee (ID)
Copyright: 2009 The Bonner County Daily Bee
Contact:  http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3628
Author: Gwen Albers
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

BF STUDENTS TEST CLEAN FOR DRUGS

BONNERS FERRY -None of 50 Boundary County School  District students
checked for illegal drug-use last  week tested positive."I'm happy
because anytime you  have drug tests that come back negative that's
good,"  Bonners Ferry High School Assistant Principal Ted  Reynolds
said about the 30 high school students who  tested negative for
marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine  and prescription drugs.

It was the second time this school year that students  in ninth
through 12th grades were tested; 20 tested  negative for drug-use last
fall, Reynolds said.

Another 20 students from Boundary County Middle School  were tested
last week. All were negative, said  principal Dick Behrens.

"That's wonderful that they were all clean," Behrens  said. "That's
what we were looking for."

Boundary County School Board last summer agreed to  begin random drug
testing on students in seventh  through 12th grades who participate in
extracurricular  activities.

Law allows school districts to drug-test students who  participate in
extra-curricular activities, including  sports, clubs, band, choir and
more. Other North Idaho  schools that do drug screening include Coeur 
d'Alene/Lake City, Lakeland, St. Maries, Timberlake,  Priest River,
Grangeville and Post Falls.

At the high school, 267 students participate in  activities, Reynolds
said. Students tested were chosen  at random.

At the middle school, about 75 participate in  activities, Behrens
said. Last week was the first time  middle school students were tested.

High school principal Curt Randall-Bayer said he has  not seen a drop
in student participation in activities  due to testing.

Bayer is pleased with the outcome of the drug testing.

"It think it's a great trend," he said. "It says our  kids are making
great choices and hopefully there's a  rollover to the general
population."

Behrens and Reynolds said students in extra activities  can expect to
be tested this spring.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin