BOARD ALLOWS ROBERSON STUDENT DRUG TESTS

ASHEVILLE - On a split vote, the Buncombe County Board of Education agreed
Wednesday to implement a mandatory drug testing program for students at
Roberson High School who participate in sports and other extracurricular
activities.

Most board members said they believe the proposal by Principal George Drake
to randomly test about 200 students over the course of the coming school
year will provide a valuable deterrent for students considering getting
involved in drugs.

"This is clearly a watershed event in the history of Buncombe County
Schools," board member Wendell Begley said.

Phil Shope, who has a daughter and son at Roberson, applauded the new policy
that some board members have said could eventually be extended to all six
high schools in the county.

"I think it's going to send the right kind of message to the students and
the parents and the people who are trafficking in drugs," Shope said.
"George Drake has really stepped up to the plate to try to do something."

But Jim Edmonds, the only member of the school board to vote against the
plan, said he has concerns about privacy intrusions and other issues. While
the law only allows school districts to test students who participate in
optional activities like sports, Edmonds said testing just those students
sends a bad message.

"The very people we are proposing to test are the ones who are performing at
a high level," he said. "The main problem is with the invasion of privacy of
our students."

Edmonds also said there's no evidence that schools that test students for
drugs have less drug use than those that don't.

Board member Richard Greene raised questions about the effectiveness of the
saliva test proposed in the plan. A urine test could be more effective
because it detects drugs in a person's system for a longer period of time,
he said.

The parents of students who test positive once would be encouraged to seek
drug counseling, but treatment wouldn't be required. A second positive test
would result in the student being prohibited from participating in
extracurricular activities for the remainder of the school year.

"The purpose is to place the parent in a position to do what the parent
deems appropriate," Superintendent Cliff Dodson said.

Drake said he appreciated the board's support for his initiative.

"I hope it will give kids support to say no," he said.

Valley Springs Middle School science teacher and basketball coach Sandra
Gilmore has two daughters that will be affected by the testing. Roberson
High School freshman Brittany Gilmore plays soccer for the Rams and Valley
Springs Middle School eighth-grader Meghan Gilmore will run cross country
and play soccer next year.

"I really agree with it," Sandra Gilmore said. "Students need the guidance,
and they need to know the authority is in place. They need to know it's
going to happen. I disagree that it's just for the kids who play sports and
participate in extracurricular activities. I think it should be for all
students. As a parent, I fully support it."