STUDENT ATHLETES FACE DRUG TESTS

Random drug testing may become routine for all St. Johns County high school
athletes, beginning next year.

School system officials piloted a drug-testing policy at Nease High School
two years ago. At that time, board members agreed that if Nease's policy
worked well, they would implement a similar policy at St. Augustine High
School and the two new schools opening in the fall -- Pedro Menendez and
Bartram Trail high schools.

In the next few weeks, a committee of school officials, health officials,
parents, students and community members will begin studying the results of
Nease's program.

"I think most people believe the pilot program at Nease has been
successful," said Glenn Pethel, the school's system's human resources
director, who will lead the committee.

Based on the committee's findings, Pethel will make a formal recommendation
to the School Board in February about how to proceed with a policy for the
other schools.

Like Nease's policy, parental consent will be required before students are
tested, said Pethel.

"There's a lot of confusion in the community," said Pethel, who added that
many people have written letters to the editor of The St. Augustine Record
on the issue.

St. Augustine High School's principal, Paula Steele, would like to drug test
all students involved in extracurricular activities. However, Pethel said
he's not sure that will be possible and that legal ramifications could
result.

Here's how the program works at Nease:

Athletic rosters are submitted each sports season to First Lab, an
independent laboratory. Students are selected privately and tested on campus
by a First Lab nurse.

Urine samples are tested for amphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, opiates and
PCP. Alcohol will show up only if the student drank it within 24 hours of
the test.

So far this year at Nease, 10 athletes have been tested, and all have been
clean. Last year, one in 60 tested positive for drugs, school officials
said. Having the policy in place has been an effective deterrent to drug
use, according to Nease Athletic Director Chris Phelps.