Pubdate: Wed, 01 Aug 2012
Source: Kirksville Daily Express (MO)
Copyright: 2012 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5325
Author: Taylor Muller

KIRKSVILLE DISTRICT APPROVES DRUG-TESTING POLICY

School board unanimously voted to approve district's first 
drug-testing policy which will require enrollment in random program 
to participate in state-sponsored activities like sports as well as 
other extracurriculars

The Kirksville R-III School Board approved the district's first 
drug-testing policy with the plan of instating the policy in time for 
the semester's start in less than two weeks for students either 
involved in state-sponsored activities like athletics, music, speech 
or debate but also cheerleading and dance as well as an option for 
voluntary participation.

The policy, approved unanimously Wednesday during a special meeting, 
will apply to 7th-through 12th-grade students involved in sports, 
music, speech and debate activities, as originally proposed, but was 
also extended to students involved in cheerleading and dance. The 
district also added an option for parents to enroll their students 
regardless of activity participation.

The policy requires for students involved in those activities to 
enroll in the random drug-testing program, from which the district 
will then draw an unspecified number of students for an unspecified 
number of times during the school year.

The test results will be used for disciplinary purposes by the 
district, only being shared with the student's parents and activities 
coordinator and never with law enforcement.

"We can edit and refine the policy," said Superintendent Patrick 
Williams, "it's open to all of that. But this is a solid first step."

The district is budgeting as much as $5,000 for the program, which 
will provide for about 200 tests a year. The tests will screen for 
drugs including marijuana and methamphetamine as well as specific 
pharmaceuticals, cocaine and ecstasy. The tests will not specifically 
screen for synthetic drugs like K-2 or bath salts.

Students can begin athletic practices as early as next week, with the 
drug-testing program to be in place shortly thereafter.

Williams said the intent will be to make the program as inclusive as 
possible and fairly flexible during the first year in terms of 
enrollment and participation.

Students will have the opportunity to enroll during an open period 
before each sports season, but will have to stay within the program 
in order to remain eligible for whatever activities, even during the 
off-season.

The approved policy also allows for parents to enroll their students 
in the program voluntarily, even if the student is not involved in 
athletics or extracurricular activities.

The policy instates a program where an undetermined number of 
students will be selected from the random pool and called to a secure 
location on the Kirksville campus to submit a urine sample for 
testing. An initial positive test will be sent off to a certified 
laboratory for conclusive testing, with a medical official then 
contacting the student's parents to discuss findings.

A confirmed positive result will be communicated to the district for 
disciplinary action.

First offenses will result in 30-day bans from activities, second 
offenses will result in a 90-day ban while third offenses during an 
academic career will result in a permanent ban with the potential to 
be reduced to one year with substance-abuse evaluation and treatment.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom