DRUG TESTING STARTS THIS YEAR AT EA-WRHS

Mandatory For Athletes, Interscholastic Activities And
Cubs

WOOD RIVER - The first day of classes is less than two weeks away,
and drug testing will be mandatory for some East Alton-Wood River
High School students.

Any student who plans to compete in sports or take part in
interscholastic activities and clubs must attend a mandatory drug
orientation with their parents at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the school's
auditorium.

Superintendent John Pearson wants to remind the public that students
and parents must attend the orientation session on the drug testing
policy, or they will not be allowed to participate in activities when
school starts.

"It's important that they be there," Pearson said. "A representative
from the drug testing company will be there to explain what happens
and answer any questions, plus students and their parents/guardian
will be required to sign a consent form."

Although the policy is not new - the EA-WRHS Board passed it in 2001
- - this is the first year the district has had the funding to
implement it. It will cost the district approximately $9,000 for the
testing, which affects about one in four students.

Pearson said that the board previously didn't want to spend the money
to enforce the policy, because it would have been about $18,000, and
the district's financial situation was bleak.

"The budget actually looks pretty good right now," he
said.

He said the district was able to scale back some of its costs and get
better pricing on the testing.

School officials said that they don't see a problem with the program,
noting the success of drug testing at Marquette Catholic High School
in Alton, where the overwhelming percentage of students passed the
test.

School Board President Lonnie McCoy said in a previous interview that
there always has been a concern about drugs in school, and Marquette
set a good example by testing all their students.

"We're a public school, and we can't test every student, but we can
test people involved in extracurricular activities," he said.

Pearson said letters and telephone messages were sent to parents,
along with a bulletin being posted on the school's Web site.

"Any of the students involved in activities should know about this,"
he said.

Parents and students who are unable to attend the meeting should
contact the school at (618) 254-3151.

Pearson said that another meeting will be scheduled in case there are
parents/guardians who are unable to attend Wednesday evening's
session because of scheduling conflicts, or for new students coming
into the district.