PARISH SCHOOL TO GET REVAMPED DRUG TESTS

The Ouachita Parish School System has one of the more progressive drug
testing programs of students participating in extracurricular activities in
the state. The School Board, however, decided it needed improvement.

The School Board recently approved moving scheduling responsibilities from
coaches, sponsors and advisers to the labs performing the tests. It also
made random testing a mandatory part of the program. Both measures go into
effect with the 2003-04 school year.

The change in scheduling makes testing more confidential for students, and
that's important. It also makes the process more objective, taking it out
of the hands of school personnel and taking away the lengthy advance
notice. The possibility of invalidating tests with advance knowledge is
greatly reduced by the new approach.

These alterations enhance an already sound program with increased
confidentiality and reliability.

"I'm not sure we had a problem with it, but this assures us we won't have a
problem,' Super-

intendent Bob Webber said. "In four years of doing this, we've only had a
handful of students test positive, and this will make it more successful.'

The parish school system tests each student participating in athletics,
band and spirit groups. Under the current plan, coaches or organization
leaders schedule students for tests with as much as two weeks notice. That
undermines the intent of drug testing.

John Wiggins of Diversified Labs, which conducts the system's tests, said
under the new policy notification will be received as late as the night
before the test. That's a major improvement and makes the approximately
$40,000 per year program more valid.

"Removing scheduling from coaches, sponsors and directors and leaving it to
the lab testing company is a major step in validating the policy," School
Board member Greg Manley said.

Previously, students volunteered to participate in random screening. Now
students in extracurricular activities will know they can be subjected to
testing at any time, not just the mandatory tests that occur seasonally.
That increases the integrity of the program.

Louisiana High School Athletic Association schools are required to have a
drug testing program, but the programs vary widely and are designed by the
schools.

Ouachita Parish has developed a solid program and these changes make it
even better.