KANSAS DISTRICT TO TEST NEARLY ALL STUDENTS FOR DRUGS

El Dorado, Kan.- Random drug testing of student athletes has become as
routine as study hall and lunch at many high schools across the country.
But this factory town outside Wichita is taking testing to the extreme.

It is instituting random drug screening for all middle and high school
students participating in - or even just attending - any extracurricular
activity. That includes sports, clubs, field trips, driver's education,
even school plays.

Those who don't sign consent forms cannot attend games, go to school
dances, join a club or so much as park their car on school property.

Administrators say the district does not have a drug problem, and say the
new policy - one of the toughest in the nation - is aimed at keeping it
that way.

"We see this in the best interest of our students. We don't see this as a
punitive measure," said Superintendent Tom Biggs.

Since the policy was enacted this school year, at least 425 students out
of 600 high schoolers, and 215 of the 315 middle school students, have
signed forms consenting to random urine tests for alcohol, tobacco and
drugs. No one has been tested yet, and school officials don't want to tip
off students about when the first random drug test will be conducted.

Brett Shirk, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of
Kansas and Western Missouri, questioned the constitutionality of the
practice.

"That policy invades the privacy of students that need deterrence and
risks steering those students to a greater risk of substance abuse that
makes the drug problems worse," Shirk said.

A 2002 Supreme Court ruling opened the door to drug-testing of athletes,
and the federal government has promoted drug testing, awarding $7.5
million in grants last year to help schools start such programs.

The White House drug-policy office estimates 2,000 public and private
districts conduct drug tests.

The National School Boards Association has reported that 5 percent of
public school districts test athletes and 2 percent test students involved
in extracurricular activities.

School officials in El Dorado, a town of 12,660 where the biggest
employers are a refinery and a balloon factory, say that under the new
policy, covering grades 7 to 12, positive test results will not be
reported to police and will not affect a student's academic participation.

But parents will be notified, and offenders will be suspended from
extracurricular activities, the penalty escalating from two weeks to more
than four months for repeat violations.