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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom