SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL TO TEST STUDENTS FOR DRUGS, ALCOHOL

SPRING VALLEY - Hall High School's drug testing policy was approved
Wednesday night by the School Board with a vote of 6-0, with one
member absent.

"The next step now is to educate parents and students in regards to
how the policy will be implemented and administered," Superintendent
Mike Struna said. "We'll send out a newsletter this spring and meet
with parents and students next fall at parent/athlete meetings to
accomplish that."

During the past four months, Struna has solicited public opinion to
draft the drug policy. It's been revised to enforce the same
punishment for students who test positive for nicotine and for those
found guilty of using illegal drugs.

The School Board also expanded the policy to include all
extracurricular groups, which brings about 80 percent of the student
body into the testing pool. Students participating in activities will
be periodically subject to random testing for substances throughout
the year.

"Next month we'll hire an agency to conduct the testing," Struna
said.

"I think this is a positive step forward to give students another
good excuse to say no to drugs."

In the past five years, Hall High school has suspended seven students
for drug and alcohol use and expelled five.

Struna plans to implement the policy by August.