HILL COUNTRY SCHOOLS LOOK TO ADD, EXPAND DRUG TESTING

BOERNE -- The discovery of heroin use by high school students here
underscores the need to bolster substance abuse prevention measures with
random drug testing, school officials say.

A screening program being developed to begin next fall for kids in athletics
and extracurricular activities calls for students who test positive to be
dropped from their squads, at least temporarily.

The New Braunfels School District board last week approved testing to start
in the fall. Kerrville trustees are also considering such a program.

In Fredericksburg, where random sampling of athletes scored six hits over
two years, the school district is expected to expand its program this fall
to include testing for steroids and testing of students who are members in
clubs.

The revelation that three local teens came forward last month seeking help
kicking a heroin habit was met with surprise among students and educators
alike.

"We've never had that before," said Marcy Voss, coordinator of the Boerne
School District's safe and drug free schools program, which starts with
character-building in kindergarten and includes counseling for older kids
struggling with substance dependence problems.

The proposed random testing, described as a deterrent, would extend the
reach of anti-drug initiatives to off campus, where beer and marijuana are
more prevalent and, occasionally, are sanctioned by parents.

"When you combine affluence with cars and leisure time, there is a great
potential for kids falling into this trap," said Boerne schools
Superintendent John Kelly.

He has made it a practice to call parents who are rumored to be hosts of
impending parties.

"They get real mad and deny it, and then I find out later that the party
wasn't held, 'because Dr. Kelly is a real bummer and prevented it,'" Kelly
said. "It makes me real angry that parents would host alcohol parties."

Besides the roughly 2,000 students involved in extracurricular activities,
he said a testing program likely would allow parents the option of including
any of their children in grades seven and up.

Currently, students can be required to submit urine samples if they exhibit
signs of drug use.

The district has seen a decline in reported alcohol use since 2000. In a
2004 survey, 58 percent of students said they'd had alcohol in the past
year, with 37 percent reporting drinking five or more drinks at one sitting
in the previous month.

The figures for 2000 in those categories were 71 percent and 45 percent,
respectively.

"We've seen improvements, but not enough," Voss said.

The poll showed 65 percent of the respondents said they'd never tried
marijuana, and most said they never smelled it at the high school campus.

"Most kids, if they do it, are smart enough not to do it at school," said
Matt King, 18.

He called random testing a violation of student privacy, but the courts have
cleared the way for schools to test kids in sports and school clubs.

The testing program has support among trustees, who could vote June 6 on
adopting it.

"It's an effort to let kids know we care about them," said trustee Fred
Jones. "I know that sounds sort of silly, but it's just a scourge right
now."

Proponents say testing will sway would-be partiers to stay clean, but
students asked about it this week predicted many would instead bypass sports
or clubs.

"If there's drug testing next year, I probably won't go out for the golf
team," said one student. "I don't want my rights infringed."

In Fredericksburg, there's been no drop in sports participation, and no one
has refused the terms of the drug testing program begun in 2003, said Marc
Williamson, superintendent there.

In Kerrville, the testing proposal moved to the back burner because of
lukewarm responses at public meetings held recently and to 4,500 surveys
sent to parents to gauge support.

"We'll just table student drug testing until there is conclusive research
that it is supported and an effective use of taxpayers' money," said Kendall
Young, director of special programs for Kerrville schools.

Eric Ashley, a Kerrville parent on a committee studying the issue, said, "I
really wonder what kind of backbone our community has and the leadership in
our school district, whether they're going to stand up in favor of it."