DRUG TESTS EYED FOR ATHLETES

Fear of Being Caught Might Keep Some Off Drugs, Official Says

The Pearl School Board is considering a mandatory drug- and alcohol-testing
policy for athletes in grades seven to 12.

The proposed policy would apply to students involved in such
extracurricular activities as band, cheerleading, dance and all other
sports. Students will be randomly selected for testing.

Estelle Watts, the district's head school nurse and a member of the
committee developing the proposal, said the board will make a final
decision after receiving input from other school officials and parents.

"What we want to do now is to inform the community, coaches and our parent
organizations to let them know what we're looking at doing," Watts said.

Watts said one of the goals of the policy is to give students a reason not
to do drugs.

"If the student felt like they would be caught, this may be easier for them
to say no because it could jeopardize what they're doing," Watts said.

"Another goal is that these drugs can and do cause problems for
adolescents, and we don't want them to participate in that activity," she said.

Pearl athletic director Woody Barnett, who also serves on the committee,
said the policy is important because student athletes are looked upon as
role models.

"Student athletes are considered leaders in the school and ... they have a
lot of influence on other students," Barnett said.

Watts said the committee plans to meet with coaches this week to discuss
the proposal. She said the committee hopes to present the board with
responses in the next month.