GPISD's drug fight nabs grant

U.S. Will Give $900,000 Over 3 Years To fund Random Student Drug Testing

The U.S. Department of Education will give Grand Prairie schools more
than $900,000 over the next three years to pay for random drug
testing of students involved in extracurricular activities, by far
the largest such grant given to a North Texas school district and the
second largest nationwide.

Grand Prairie school officials said they used a surefire method to
obtain the $914,746 grant - they simply asked for it after noticing
an increase in student drug use.

"We have kids attending schools that are high, kids bringing in
marijuana and cocaine," said Rosie Mendez, GPISD's Safe and Drug-Free
Schools coordinator. "We're even seeing drug problems with elementary
students. This is happening, and we're saying, 'We have a problem.
Let's deal with it.' "

Only Cypress-Fairbanks ISD in Houston received a larger grant than
Grand Prairie with more than $950,000 over three years. The Dallas
school district also received a three-year grant, for $600,000, to
implement a volunteer-based drug-testing program.

According to Texas A&M University surveys of high school students,
conducted every two years, the state average for secondary students
trying marijuana decreased from 32 percent in 2000 to 30 percent in
2004. In Grand Prairie, that number went from 34 percent in 2000 to
37 percent in 2002, then dropped to 35 percent two years later. And
while those who had tried cocaine dropped statewide from 9 percent in
2000 to 7 percent in 2004, it rose during that period in Grand
Prairie from 9 percent to 11 percent.

GPISD program GPISD's grant will pay for random drug tests on
secondary students in extracurricular activities over the next three
years. There are about 7,000 youngsters in the testing pool, and
about half of them will be tested each year, officials said. Students
not involved in extracurricular programs can volunteer for testing
with parental permission.

Starting in the fall, sixth-through 12th-graders participating in
competitive UIL activities - sports, band, cheerleading, speech and
debate, theater arts and even chess clubs - will have to agree to
random drug tests. Some tests will be done this spring, and for now
students can decline to participate.

"Starting in August, there will be no choice," Ms. Mendez said.

The number tested will be determined by cost, which in turn depends
on how many drugs are included, Ms. Mendez said. She wants to test
for alcohol and steroid use if possible, but marijuana, amphetamines
and cocaine are the most widely used drugs in GPISD.

"Those are the biggest problem everyone has," said Dr. Harvey Graves,
president and CEO of Pinnacle Medical Management Corp. in Houston
which will conduct the Grand Prairie tests. "Testing for those three
would be about $25 per test."

Steroid testing is the most expensive since there are at least 29
anabolic steroids. A complete steroid panel runs about $150, Dr. Graves said.

Urine specimens will be used for the tests, and students will be
chosen using a numbering system that assures confidentiality, Dr. Graves said.

If a student tests positive, a medical review officer will contact
the parents to make sure the student is not taking prescription
drugs. If those are ruled out, Pinnacle will inform the student, the
parents, Ms. Mendez and GPISD Superintendent David Barbosa.

"It's all done in a very confidential manner," Ms. Mendez said,
adding that even teachers and staff don't know the results. "I'll
follow up with intervention and referrals. We make sure if they test
positive, they'll get help."

Students testing positive also will be suspended from all
extracurricular activities for 90 days for the first offense, 180
days for the second, and one year for the third.

DISD program The Dallas school district opted for voluntary drug
testing for students in Drug-Free Youth in Texas programs on 31
secondary campuses. All volunteers will be tested initially, then a
percentage will be randomly tested each month, said Paige Marsh,
program manager for the district's Safe and Drug-Free Schools.

The test will look for amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, opiates and
PCP. The district will not test for steroids, she said.

Robyn Disselkoen, manager of the Department of Education's student
drug-testing grants, said most districts do a combination of
volunteer and extracurricular participants.

"The Department of Education will not fund a program that tests all
kids in a school," Ms. Disselkoen said. "Also, under our program, a
student cannot be suspended from school for testing positive. This is
not meant to be punitive."

The department gave out 55 grants nationwide in October, which
included Grand Prairie's award. They gave away eight in 2003,
including one for about $450,000 over three years to Eagle-Mountain
Saginaw ISD northwest of Fort Worth. In that district, all students
in extracurricular activities are tested for five drugs, and some are
randomly chosen for steroid testing, said Assistant Superintendent
Steve Williams, who oversees the grant program.

Ms. Mendez hopes the drug-testing program will serve as a deterrent
to student drug use. But Grand Prairie High School senior Chris
Herbert, 17, believes that will take awhile.

"The first random test they do, I know for a fact there's going to be
a lot of kids in trouble," Chris said. "There's going to be some that
say, 'That's not going to happen to me because I won't get chosen.' "

IF YOU GO: The GPISD will host parent meetings about the new
drug-testing program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 14 at Grand Prairie
High School, 101 High School Drive; and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 21
at South Grand Prairie High School, 301 W. Warrior Trail. For
information, call 972-237-5380.