SCHOOL OFFICIAL SAYS DRUG TESTING A DETERRENT

All Athletes At Two Schools Tested So Far

After testing every student athlete at two Beaufort County high
schools, school officials say the tests are working as a deterrent to
student drug use.

The school system tested every athlete at Washington High School on
Jan. 3 - the first day of school after Christmas break. About a week
ago, the same procedure was used to test athletes at Northside High
School. Joe Tkach, Beaufort County School athletic director, said the
number of students testing positive for drug use in both schools was
"very, very low."

"We were pleasantly surprised on both tests," Tkach said Wednesday.
"We take it as a sign that testing is working as a deterrent. It gives
students another options to say 'no.' If they're at a party and are
offered alcohol or drugs, they can say 'I'm an athlete. I could be
randomly tested. I'm not going to do it.'"

The Beaufort County Board of Education adopted a drug testing policy
in September 2004 that requires every athlete to sign a form
consenting to random drug testing. The policy was revised in June
2005. The policy applies to students in grades seven through 12 who
voluntarily participate in athletics. The students' parents or
guardians must also sign the form.

The policy states that "based on the (school system's) budget, a
contracted test administrator will randomly select approximately 1
percent (but not less than 3 students per school) of the students
subject to testing at each school 10 times per school year on a random
schedule."

But, the test administered at Washington High School in January was
anything but random. On the first day students returned to school
after the winter holiday, every athlete was asked to come to short a
meeting in the gym. When the about 300 students arrived, they learned
they would all be drug tested.

School board Chairman Robert Belcher said Tuesday the same method of
testing was used at Northside. About 200 students were tested there,
according to Tkach.

The diversion from the school board's adopted policy of random testing
was based on the price of testing and to send a clear reminder of the
athlete's pledge to stay clean, according to Tkach.

"Because we got a low cost on the tests, we decided to test everyone,"
he said. "Random testing only gives a very narrow snapshot in time. If
a students tests negative on one test, who's to say he or she won't
try something in six months? Overall we have found it to be a good
deterrent that actually helps students. That's what it's aimed at."

If a student tests positive or refuses to take a drug test, random or
otherwise, he or she is automatically suspended from athletics for 365
calendar days. Upon successful completion of a drug-abuse assessment
course the student is allowed to return to athletics if the student
submits to subsequent testing. There is no academic penalty for
testing positive on a drug test, according to the school system's policy.

The school system's policy allows tests for PCP, cocaine, marijuana,
barbiturates, opiates and benzodiazepines.

Tkach said tests are rarely if ever administered for alcohol because
it does not remain in a student's system for long. He also said the
school system does not regularly test for steroid use because the
tests costs about $130 each.

The school system contracted with Morehead City-based Professional
Nursing to administer the tests at both schools, according to Tkach.
Calls to the company seeking the cost of a tests were not returned
Wednesday. Tkach did not know the cost.

Superintendent Jeff Moss, who is out of town at a conference, did not
return a call seeking comment Wednesday.

Parents, teachers and school administrators can request a test be
administered to a student athlete based on suspicious behavior, Tkach
said. In that regard, the option of drug testing gives parents another
tool to keep their children on track and off drugs.

"If they worry about their children like most parents do, it gives
them an opportunity to steer them in the right direction if they
suspect drug use," Tkach said.