FRANCIS HOWELL SCHOOLS GET SET TO START DRUG TESTING

The Francis Howell School District will begin random drug testing
this week for all students involved in sports and extracurricular
activities.

More than 4,000 students, or about two-thirds of the district, will
be in the first mandatory testing pool. Those tapped will be checked
through random urine testing for a variety of substances, including
marijuana, cocaine and Ecstasy. Some will be tested for steroids.

All students in extracurricular activities are required to be in the
random testing pool, as are all students who have permits to park on
campus. Parents also can place their children in the pool
voluntarily.

Francis Howell's School Board approved about $60,000 to pay a private
firm to randomly test 20 percent of students in the pool each week.
Officials are spending an additional $34,000 to educate the public
about the program.

Student drug testing is not new to the St. Louis area. However, more
schools are considering such methods.

Collinsville High School began testing athletes this fall. The
Illinois High School Association is considering random testing for
steroids and growth hormones in students who play in state finals for
football, basketball, track and other sports.

The Fort Zumwalt district reinstated a testing program last
year.

Fort Zumwalt Superintendent Bernard DuBray said the School Board has
asked administrators to study the possibility of expanding the
program to include more students. But for now, he said, he is pleased
with the 70 to 80 percent participation rate among athletes.

"I'm surprised it has taken this long to have more districts get
involved," DuBray said.

Officials said the tests are intended to offer help for those who
need it and provide a deterrent for students considering drug use.
Private schools can test all students for drugs, but such a move in
public schools would be unconstitutional, administrators have said.

Public schools typically have targeted athletes for testing as a
special class of students. Francis Howell's program, though, goes a
step further by including students in extracurricular activities and
those with parking passes.

For a first offense, a student who tests positive for drug use under
Francis Howell's policy would be removed for 10 days from
extracurricular activities or lose his or her parking pass for 10
days. The student also would have to complete at least four weeks of
counseling.

More positive tests would result in longer removal from activities
and more counseling.