COMMITTEE TO EXPLORE SCHOOL DRUG TESTING

Logan-Rogersville Would Randomly Test Students Involved In
Extracurricular Activities

Rogersville -- Parents in the Logan-Rogersville School District will
explore the possibility next week of conducting random drug testing
for middle and high school students who participate in
extracurricular activities.

The first meeting for the steering committee studying this issue will
be at 6 p.m. May 7 in the district's central office at 100 E. Front
St.

"I am taking this step forward into a very controversial subject, but
I am not doing it lightly," said school superintendent Allan Markley.
"I have suspended over 20 students this year for drug use in our
high school and middle school."

The goal of the committee will be to collect data and examine area
programs that are currently in place while coming up with a
recommendation to the Board of Education, Markley said. The group
will meet often during the two -to three-month study process.

"Our purpose is not necessarily to catch and punish students for
using drugs but perhaps to give a student another weapon to say 'no'
to the temptation of an illegal substance," Markley continued. "I
believe it's time to become more active in helping our students in
this area, and I am committed to that cause."

The inclusion of testing for staff in the policy is also being
studied, Markley said. "We don't ask the students to do anything we
aren't willing to do ourselves."

He noted that state CDL license regulations require bus drivers
submit to periodic drug tests.

"It wouldn't bother me to submit to it," said Tennis coach and math
teacher Sarah Worsham. "From my perspective, I don't see how that
(testing) could be a bad thing if we found a kid who was in need of
some help."

students' overview

Junior classmates Berea Flatness, 17, and Zach Craig, 16, agree that
there is a drug problem at Logan-Rogersville. They added that it's
worse than it appears on the surface.

Seeing friends get into trouble for doing drugs will do a lot more to
deter drug activity than expulsion or sending students who are caught
to the alternative school, they said.

"Actually, they like the alternative school because it's only a half
day," said Flatness. "I don't think that helps any, but the drug test
will. When they see friends get into trouble if they're using."

Craig said he would not object to the test and added that it might
help someone make the decision to quit.

"It'd definitely be a good thing to get all the drugs out of our
school that we can. It would make it safer too," he said.

Flatness noted there are always some who will protest.

"But those who object are probably the ones who are doing drugs. They
keep saying, 'It's a privacy thing; it's a privacy thing,' but if
they don't have anything to hide they shouldn't object."

She recalled hearing the parents of younger children talking about it
at Dance Craze in Rogersville, where she works.

"They were excited about it because it would help to clean it up
before their kids get to high school," she said.

Parents' concerns

Nino Francaviglia, owner of Paradise Bay Foods, has two high school
sons involved in football and wrestling. They would be included in
the drug-testing group.

"The first thing I would have to ask -- if I'm part of the committee
- -- is what will they be testing for?" said Francaviglia. "The other
concern would be what kind of umbrella or layer of protection will be
provided to the student as far as privacy is concerned."

Francaviglia has become acquainted with many parents and youngsters
in the community through his involvement as a Mighty Mite football
coach.

He said that he knows of people in the community who are concerned
about the rights and privacy of their families, but they would
probably shy away from stating so publicly though, he added.

"I'm very open minded

even with the Patriot Act," he continued. "They can bug my phone any
time they want if it can make America a safer place. Our community
should be no different than our country."

Francaviglia, who pointed out the prevalence of methamphatamine in
the Ozarks, said, "I tell my teenagers that if you try it even one
time, you're hooked. You can't experiment -- not even once."

Sheila Bohannon has children in middle and primary
school.

"Actually, (drug testing is) a good idea, but it depends on how they
go about choosing who is tested and how often it's done," she said.
"If just one child who benefits because there's something going on in
his or her life, I'm all for that."

"Personally, I don't think it's an invasion of privacy when a person
chooses to do something to themselves that's harmful," she said.

Testing elsewhere

Many area schools have already instituted a random drug-testing
program or have one ready to go into effect at the beginning of the
next school year.

Fordland Superintendent Brian Wilson said his district has had a
policy in place since last fall.

"We were trying to be proactive," said Wilson. "It's not an
opportunity to catch kids; we want to use this (policy) as a
deterrent to give these kids an out where they can say, 'No, I don't
want to do that.' But there's no magic answer."

Branson Superintendent Doug Hayter said his district also initiated a
drug policy this school year.

"If you're 16 and park on campus, you are put into the pool for
random drug testing," said Hayter.

"By putting drivers in the pool, it includes kids that are not
involved in an extracurricular activity. We wanted it to be
consistent and test as many kids as possible. If there are too many
that are not being tested, it defeats the purpose."

From a legal perspective, Hayter explained, the Branson policy was
based on the concept of what would be considered a right instead of a
privilege.

"In case law, every student is guaranteed a free public education.
Extracurricular activities and driving are not part of that," he
continued. "We could interfere with the basic right to a free
education and could run into legal problems if we test every child,
but testing students for things that are considered privileges would
fall within what is considered the legal guidelines."

Hayter recalled a few students and parents who had some problems with
the policy early on, but since implementation, there have been no
complaints, he said.

The students say they feel it makes the school safer as well as gives
kids an "out" with their peers, he said.