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