POLK SCHOOLS MAY DOUBLE RANDOM TESTING FOR DRUGS

BARTOW | The Polk County School District plans to double the number
of students who will be randomly tested for drugs.

In addition to athletes, district officials will target Future
Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America and any other
extracurricular group that competes.

The testing program was discussed at a School Board work session Tuesday.

If the district receives an annual $200,000 federally funded grant,
testing new students would begin by November and the number of
students randomly tested would jump from 4,500 to 9,000. In all, the
grant would total $600,000 over three years.

The tests will target only recreational drugs, not steroids.

In 2004, the district began testing for steroids, but later stopped
because it became too expensive.

The method used to test students is through an examination of urine.

Students who test positive for drugs would go to the Mark Wilcox
Center in Winter Haven for evaluation. The positive results would not
affect a student's record at school and they would not be
disciplined, said Audrey Kelley-Fritz, senior manager of prevention,
health and wellness for Polk schools.

Each year about 30 or 40 students test positive for recreational
drugs. Marijuana is the most common drug found because it stays in
the system the longest, Kelley-Fritz said. Occasionally, some test
positive for cocaine or alcohol.

Officials say the testing has worked. Marijuana usage rate for
athletes has declined 16.83 percent since 2004, according the
District's Web site.

Testing is expensive.

District officials said they didn't know how much it costs per
student but said they expect to spend $156,565 on testing each year
if they receive the grant.

Organizations such as band or chorus groups would not be affected
because they don't compete for prizes, Kelley-Fritz said.

Drug tests are given monthly, said Nancy Woolcock, assistant
superintendent of learning support.

Because of computerized random testing some students may be tested
several times a year, while others may never receive a test.