SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONDUCT MORE DRUG TESTS

Students in sports or who drive to school will have to take the
tests

A $178,290 drug prevention grant means 5,900 drug tests for the
Victoria school district.

Four hundred of these will be test for anabolic steroids.

The grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
and the U.S. Department of Education and money set aside in the
district's budget allow for 10 times more drug screens.

"There is a chance that a student could be tested twice," Diane
Boyett, communication's specialist for the district said.

For the past two years the district has budgeted $10,000 to provide
about 600 drug screening tests. Students in grades six through 12 that
participate in extra curricular activities and students who park a
vehicle on school grounds on school days are subject to the drug screening.

There are approximately 3,200 students involved in extra curricular
activities Boyett said.

"Prior to participating in the extra curricular activities, parents
are asked to sign a consent form for the drug test," Boyett said. "If
it is not signed the student will not be allowed to
participate."

Parents of students who do not fall in either category can put their
child in the screening pool by signing the consent form in the student
handbook.

"The tests are random and the student's privacy is respected," Boyett
said.

The drug screening company is Forward Edge, Inc. out of Pasadena. The
screening will test for alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, amphetamines etc.

"If a student fails the screening they will be referred to counseling
and on a first offense will be suspended for 21 days," Boyett said.

Students involved in extra curricular activities will have to meet
with their parents, sponsors or coaches and will have to attend
counseling. Once their suspension is over the student will need to
show proof of counseling, pass a drug test and will be tested monthly
at random.

"Most times students fall into peer pressure because they don't know
how to say no," Boyett said.

The drug screening is just another tool in the fight against substance
abuse said Superintendent Bob Moore.

"We have to help our students learn to make healthy choices with good
moral character," Moore said.