PROPOSED DRUG TESTS WOULD COVER MOST STUDENTS

A proposed random alcohol- and drug-testing program would affect 80
to 85 percent of students at Gadsden City High School, officials say,
including those who participate in extracurricular activities or
drive vehicles to school.

Hearings on the proposal will be at 6 p.m. Monday and Thursday at the
Gadsden City High School Auditorium.

The policy will apply to athletes, cheerleaders or students
participating in other school-related activities in grades seven
through 12. An extracurricular activity is defined as any school or
school-related activity not required as a part of a student's
mandated basic educational curriculum. That would include band, clubs
and other activities.

It also includes students who operate or park a motor vehicle at
school and students who have been voluntarily added to the random
pool with the consent of parents.

According to the policy, which is posted on the city Board of
Education's Web site, students may be tested for alcohol or drug use
prior to beginning a seasonal activity, during the season of activity
or before granting parking privileges on a random basis without
advance notice.

Once a student is placed in the random pool, the student is subject
to testing for the entire year.

Any student with a positive test for alcohol or drugs confirmed by
the board's medical review officer, will be subject to consequences
"which include immediate suspension from student activities." That
suspension would last a month for the first violation, and a
negative test and counseling would be required for
reinstatement.

Those consequences also cover a "no-contact positive test," which
means the medical resource officer is unable to reach a parent to
confirm that drugs detected are legally justified.

Refusal to submit to testing or refusing to cooperate in any test
investigation "will result in immediate suspension from participating
in extracurricular activities or parking for 365 days."

Students who violate the policy will not be penalized
academically.

Superintendent Bob Russell said, for example, students would still go
to band class or choral classes but would not be able to perform.

In addition to suspension from parking and extracurricular activities
for the first violation, the policy also calls for the student and
parent to attend conferences with a school drug coordinator, attend
prevention counseling and attend an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics
Anonymous meeting. The student must report to a designated school
counselor once a week for four weeks.

According to the consent form, students are required to sign the
release only if they park on campus, are a member of a club, are a
class officer or are involved in any other extracurricular activity,
band and or athletics.