QUEEN CREEK TO RANDOMLY TEST ATHLETES FOR DRUGS

QUEEN CREEK - Empowering student-athletes to say no to drugs was the
motivation behind the Queen Creek Unified School District's new policy of
random testing, according to the high school's principal and football coach.

The district's Governing Board recently adopted the policy. All athletes at
the high school are being required to turn in permission slips to be
tested. Numbers will be assigned, and about 5 percent will be drawn for
random testing. Parents will be notified of a child's selection.

"It's a step in a positive direction," said Curt LeBlanc, the high school's
second-year football coach. "It gives them another reason to say no. And if
there ever is a concern, it gives kids a means to go for help."

Principal Sharron Walker said the policy was two years in the making and
said it will "take the pressure off kids." Those who test positive for
drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, alcohol and steroids, will be
suspended from sports for 18 weeks and required to receive counseling, at
their own expense, before being retested.

A ruling in June by the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for school drug
testing. Walker said the district's lawyers are confident that, because of
the ruling, the new policy will withstand any legal challenges.

LeBlanc said the players on his team seem unconcerned about testing.

"I'm not ignorant (of potential problems), but I'm pretty lucky," he said.
"We have a lot of kids who make good decisions."