MADISON COUNTY ADDS MORE DRUG TESTS

Students In Some Activities To Get Random Checks

Madison County will perform more random drug tests on middle and high
school students this year.

The district has decided to test 25 percent of each school's
projected enrollments, up from the 10 to 15 percent tested this past
year. Random drug tests are performed on students who participate in
extracurricular activities that engage in competition, such as
yearbook, newspaper, band, cheerleading, athletics and choir.

"The rationale (behind the testing) is to give kids a reason to say
no if they're tempted," Superintendent Mike Kent said. "The more the
tests are widely available, the more reason there is to say no."

"If we could test 100 percent, I'd be for it," school board member
Ken McCoy said during a meeting last week.

Last year, the district tested 614 students at eight schools. At the
middle-school level, only eighth-grade students active in
extracurricular activities can potentially be tested. Of the number
tested, only six students, or 1 percent, failed their drug tests.

"That is below the national average in these types of situations,
which is generally about 2 percent," Kent said.

Students chosen at random give urine samples, which are tested for
the presence of illegal or performance-enhancing drugs, such as
steroids. The whole process is kept confidential.

At $25 a test, the district plans to spend $24,925 to check for drug
use among students. Last year, the district spent $15,350. Kent said
the district plans to seek a federal grant that would cover about
half the cost of the testing program.

Ridgeland High principal Lee Boozer said he applauds the district
wanting to test more students at each school. "There's not any doubt
this gives kids a reason to say no."

Janice Watts, a parent of a freshman football player at Rosa Scott
this year, said she appreciates the tests. The program can be a
benefit to both parents and the schools, she said. "If a parent
doesn't know (about drug use) and the school tests, at that point the
parents and the school can tackle the problem together."

Students who test positive are removed from their extra activities
for 28 days. At the end of 28 days, if a student does not test
positive for drugs, then the student is reinstated. If he tests
positive again during the 28 days, he goes to Alternative School for a year.

Boozer said the randomness of the tests means some students have
never been tested while some students have been picked more than once.

The district expects to test 350 at Madison Central High, 215 at
Ridgeland High, 88 at Velma Jackson High, 136 at Rosa Scott, 118 at
Madison Middle School, 53 at Olde Towne Middle School, 24 at
Northeast Madison Middle School and 13 at East Flora Middle School.