Pubdate: Wed, 18 Nov 1998
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Contact:   http://www.desnews.com/
Author: Jennifer Toomer-Cook

SESSION ON DRUG TESTS IS A BUST

A national school athlete drug-testing conference came to Salt Lake
City Monday, but no Utah school representatives came, and only about
two dozen officials from neighboring states attended.

"We're kind of taken aback by the lack of people. Maybe they don't
have any drug problems in Salt Lake City," said Randall Aultman,
retired principal of Vernonia High School in Oregon whose random
athlete drug-testing policy prevailed in the U.S. Supreme Court in
1995. "The (drug) problem has grown in schools. Not enough is being
done to stem it."

Aultman speaks at conferences, funded by pharmaceutical and
drug-testing company American Bio Medica Corp., across the country.
Feelings on drug testing student athletes vary in Utah school
districts. The 6,800-student Murray School randomly drug tests
athletes monthly, with names and alternates selected by a private
company via computer. Students participating in interscholastic
activities in junior high or high schools sign an agreement for such
tests, which have overall community support. Those testing positive
for drugs can be suspended for up to 10 days and put on probation from
athletics.

"It's gone fairly well," said Steve Hirasi, assistant superintendent
of curriculum and instruction who oversaw drafting of the drug-testing
policy. Nobody has tested positive for drugs; reasons why could be in
data being compiled from drug-use surveys, he said.

"We feel student athletes are an example or role model to other
students, and we feel it's important for them to set a proper
example," he said. Tests costs $25 apiece; the district has budgeted
$2,000 for tests, which bus drivers also must take.

Box Elder High School has been there, done that, and moved on. The
school earlier this decade abandoned drug testing just two years into
the policy, which applied to students in extracurricular activities
from student government to basketball.

"The number of kids we actually nailed on it . . . was just one kid,"
said Jay Stuart, former Box Elder principal who is now an
administrative assistant for Box Elder School District.

The somewhat controversial program, which forwarded specimens to the
University of Utah, was not cost-effective, Stuart said. The program
dried up when its grant money did.

The state's largest school district, Jordan, is turned off by drug
testing of student athletes.

"Even though the Supreme Court has determined it is legal to test
student athletes, we still have some very strong concerns about
privacy," said Melinda Rock, spokeswoman for the district enrolling
more than 73,000 students. Rock says time involved in drug testing,
the district's strict drug and alcohol policy, and the fact that "we
sincerely believe our coaches are taking care of these problems among
their own teams" solidifies its stance. But Aultman believes all
school districts should implement such tests, used in about 30 schools
and districts in 16 other states. Aultman, a "law and order principal"
and former cop, said he tried everything from drug-sniffing dogs to
suspension policies to get students away from drugs - but to no avail.

Drug testing of athletes, however, worked. Those students, armed with
a reason to eschew drugs, set an example to start an anti-drug wave.
"It doesn't stop all of it, but it does give an aura to the school,"
Aultman said. "I saw such a difference in my school . . . my students
had convinced me this was a good thing."
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Checked-by: Patrick Henry