Pubdate: Tue, 31 Jan 2012
Source: Monitor-Index (Moberly MO)
Copyright: 2012 The Moberly Monitor-Index
Contact:  http://www.moberlymonitor.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3316
Author: Benjamin Herrold
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

WESTRAN HOLDS DRUG-TESTING FORUM

Moberly, Mo. - The Westran school district held a public forum Monday 
night at the high school to discuss implementing a student 
drug-testing program for students entering grades 7-12 who 
participate in activities outside of regular coursework.

The program included a presentation from Westran football coach 
Curtis Jasper, as well as information from John Throckmorton, of 
Employee Screening Services. A little over 40 people attended the 
forum, and they were able to ask questions and make comments.

Jasper shared the proposed policy, and added that nothing is set in 
stone yet. The school district first looked at the issue with a 
Student Drug Testing Committee. He said the reasoning for considering 
student drug testing was pretty basic.

"As a school we would like to have a safe environment for our 
students to learn in," Jasper said.

He also said the drug testing could be "a great tool" for students to 
use against peer pressure.

Questions from those in attendance focused mostly on the testing 
procedures, such as who does the collection, how long of a time 
period students have to provide samples and whether testing company 
employees go in with the students when they provide the urine samples.

Throckmorton said that the third party vendor would conduct the 
testing at the school. Once notified that they have been randomly 
selected, students will be asked to provide a sample immediately. If 
they cannot do so right away, they would be allowed to intake fluids 
while being monitored for a few hours until they are able to provide a sample.

Throckmorton also said that due to the students being minors, it is 
his company's policy to not go in with the students while they 
produce the urine samples for testing.

Under the proposed policy provided at the forum, in addition to other 
consequences, the first offense of a confirmed positive test would be 
a 30-day suspension from activities and on-campus parking. The second 
confirmed positive test would be a 90-day suspension from activities 
and on-campus parking, and a third offense would mean a ban from all 
interscholastic activities and a one-year suspension from on-campus parking.

The drug testing would be for a variety of substances, including 
alcohol, opiates, amphetamines, oxycodone, cocaine, marijuana and 
K-2, among others. The urine samples could also be tested for 
performance-enhancing drugs, including anabolic steroids.

Last July, Moberly approved drug testing for students who participate 
in Missouri State High School Activities Association-sanctioned 
activities. The Cairo school district also has student drug testing. 
Jasper said Westran has studied several other schools' drug-testing programs.

Westran athletic director Matt Burton said that the district has 
conducted both student and adult surveys on the drug testing subject 
earlier in the school year, and that the information received shows 
there may be enough concern to begin the testing. Jasper said that 
when asked whether the school district had a drug problem, the 
percentages saying "yes" were: school staff 55 percent, parents 46 
percent, high school students 32 percent and middle school students 
11 percent. Jasper said he felt that if anyone feels the district has 
a drug problem, the school should look into it.

Burton also said the testing could begin as early as the 2012-13 
school year. Jasper said the first step would be a meeting in August 
to present the final version of the drug-testing policy.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom