VOLUNTARY DRUG TESTING PROGRAM CONSIDERED

Plan to Encourage Drug and Alcohol Abstinence and Promote Safe
Driving Could Begin As Early As March

The South Butler School District is considering a policy that would
bring voluntary student drug testing to the district, making it the
second school in Butler County to implement such a program.

South Butler school board members discussed the possibility at their
Jan. 10 meeting. As part of the initiative, voluntary drug testing
could start as early as March.

The program, called Stand Tall, is designed to teach students to
abstain from drug and alcohol and to promote safe driving, including
not riding in a car with someone who has been drinking. It also is
designed to curb bullying. The program was introduced to the
administration, which supports the idea, by the district's drug
testing study committee, district spokesman Todd O'Shell said.

Three staff members presented the program to the board: Rick Cavett,
Knoch Middle School assistant principal; Todd Trofimuck, Knoch High
School assistant principal; and Lisa Knappenberger, high school
physical education teacher.

Ms. Knappenberger said she liked the program because it doesn't use
strong-arm tactics.

"It's a commitment to making good decisions, not just coming to
meetings once a month," she said.

The program would be open to all students in the high school, Mr.
Cavett said. It would be the district's goal to expand it to the
middle school for next school year if the initial phase in the high
school was well-received by students and parents.

To participate in the program, students would have to have a parent
or guardian sign a permission slip. Youngsters would then promise
not to use drugs or alcohol, Mr. Trofimuck said, and would be
required to attend regular Stand Tall meetings.

A unique aspect of the program is that a child has to agree to participate..

"Students and parents both have to sign the consent forms," Mr.
Trofimuck said. "If we have a parent submit a form and the student
hasn't signed it, we will not force [the student] to participate."

Students who participate will be randomly tested for drug and
alcohol use. Any who test positive would be referred to the
district's student assistance program, Ms. Knappenberger said. All
results would be kept confidential and referred only to a school counselor.

Students who test positive would not be reprimanded by the district
unless school policy was violated in a secondary way, such as
possessing drugs or alcohol on school property, Mr. Cavett said.

If a student selected to be tested refused to take the test, Ms.
Knappenberger said, parents would be notified.

"But we won't force the student to take the test," she said. "That's
not how this program works. It'll be up to the parent to decide
where to take it from there if their child refuses the test."

Students who sign up for the program would be assigned an
identification number, Ms. Knappenberger said. To keep the monthly
testing truly random, participants' identification numbers would be
drawn from a container..

"We hope to be able to test four kids in March, then, hopefully,
increase that to eight students in both April and May," she said.

The program also calls for incentives for students who stay clean,
including gift cards to restaurants and retail stores, as well as
the possibility of pizza and ice cream parties for participants who
make it through the year without testing positive.

Mr. Trofimuck said there were roughly 1,050 students in the high
school, and that they anticipated that 300 to 400 would sign up for
the program.

"I think we'll be surprised by the number of kids who will
participate," Ms. Knappenberger said.

If approved, the testing will be conducted by the Butler Visiting
Nurses Association, Ms. Knappenberger said. Tests cost $25 each and
would be paid for initially out of a $9,000 Drug Free School Grant.

"The long-term plan is to have the program be a part of our local
community, and seek assistance from the community as well as local
businesses to help keep it going once the grant money no longer is
available," Mr. Cavett said.

This spring would be the testing phase of the program, Ms.
Knappenberger said, which would give the district a chance to work
out kinks before the plan is expanded next year.

The board is expected to vote on the measure at its meeting Feb. 14.

South Butler would be the second school to implement the program if
it receives final approval. Butler Area Junior High School started a
Stand Tall program this school year.

The Seneca Valley School District also has drug testing, but it is
mandatory for students who participate in athletics or
extra-curricular activities or who want parking permits to drive to school.