WILLARD TO EXPAND DRUG TESTING TO MIDDLE SCHOOL

Some Area Middle School Students Will Face A New Test This Year:
Random Drug Testing.

At its regular board meeting Thursday night, the Willard Board of
Education received an update on a program that is beginning this
year. Most parents are signing the form that allows their child to be
part of the testing pool, said drug-testing coordinator Dennis Twitchel.

Twitchel, a former assistant principal at the middle school, said the
district wanted to take the testing program to middle school after
implementing the program successfully last year at the high school.

At the high school level, any student who wishes to participate in an
extracurricular or co-curricular program, or who wants a driving
permit, must agree to go into the testing pool. Every two weeks, 20
students from the pool are randomly selected for testing, said Twitchel.

If a test comes up positive, parents are informed, the student must
go through counseling and the student is suspended from activities
for 30 days for a first offense, 120 for a second offense, or for the
rest of his or her school career for a third offense.

The middle school plans to randomly select 10 students every two
weeks, said Twitchel. Penalties for a positive test in middle school
are still being worked out.

Last year about 87 percent of high school students were in the
testing pool. The program did catch some students with positive drug
tests, but Twitchel declined to say how many.

The test screens for cocaine, marijuana, meth and certain
prescription medications.

Data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Web
site indicates Willard Middle School reported 21 drug incidents
between 2003 and 2007.

The Logan-Rogersville Middle School reported five drug incidents
between 2003 and 2007. That school is starting a drug testing program
this year as well.

Twitchel said parents are very supportive of the program.

"It gives them bragging rights," he said. "They can say 'My kid is
not on drugs, he peed in a cup.'"

Tessa Thornton, an eighth-grade volleyball player and choir member,
called the new drug-testing program great.

"If someone is doing drugs, it can affect their body," she said.
"It's great to have someone take care of their body. And if you are
on an academic or athletic team, you are really being an example for others."