SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANS DRUG TEST FOR ITS ATHLETES

Before the first touchdown pass is thrown or the first pom-pon is
shook Springfield Local School District athletes will have a hurdle
to clear before stepping on any practice fields: a drug test.

The district is preparing to move forward with a plan to drug test
athletes before the season and randomly test them during the season.
Students already pay a $50 sport participation fee, and the district
will use money from that fund to pay for the tests at the school.

The district is using Great Lakes BioMedical, a drug-testing
laboratory in Perrysburg, to administer the test to about 450
students.

The district, which has 22 sports, is one of several in northwest
Ohio to drug test its athletes, including Clay High School in Oregon
and Lake High School in Millbury.

The district has scheduled a meeting for Monday night at 7 p.m. at
Springfield High School for parents and students to ask questions
about the issue.

"I think it's a good idea," said Spencer Warders, 17, a Springfield
High School football player and wrestler. "If they are going to be
serious about their sport, they'll clean up their act and give up the
party life."

The district sees the testing as part of its anti-drug effort.

"We feel it would give students an additional way to say 'No,'"
Superintendent Cynthia Beekley said. "As athletes, they might be at a
party and can say no and say, 'I know I might be tested.' It gives
them some support to say no and ensure their safety in athletic
contests."

The board of education voted in May, 1999, to begin a drug test
policy with one test prior to the season and two during the course of
the season.

But the plan was put on hold after several questions arose about
privacy and who would give the test.

Under the new policy, if a student fails the first drug test, a
second test will be given.

If a second test is failed, the district will try to get the student
help but not pursue a suspension.

However, the student no longer will be allowed to participate in sports.

"It's meant to be helpful," Dr. Beekley said.

The district has received favorable responses about the policy from
the community, Dr. Beekley said.

The district cannot have a uniform policy and test the entire student body.

Schools have tried to test all their students, but they have lost in
court, Dr. Beekley said. This is different, she said, because it
becomes a safety issue with athletes who could endanger themselves or
others while paying sports under the influence of drugs.

"You can't test everybody," she said.

"The court says it's a violation of their constitutional rights."