FUNDING IN DOUBT FOR DRUG TESTING

HELENA (AP) - When Plenty Coups High School implemented mandatory drug
testing for students in extracurricular activities, Superintendent Joe
Barbero felt it was the best thing for the students.

Seven years later, he still believes so, and Barbero intends to be at
the Capitol Monday to show his support for a bill that would require
such testing statewide.

"I think we've proved that we don't have a drug problem here," he
said. "When our kids walk on a football field or a basketball court, I
can say they're eligible academically and they're drug free."

House Bill 81 would require students in grades 6 through 12 to undergo
mandatory drug, alcohol and tobacco testing to participate in
extracurricular activities.

The bill goes before the House Human Services Committee Monday
afternoon.

The Montana High School Association hasn't taken a position on the
bill, but Executive Director Jim Haugen questions if there would be
enough money available to conduct such tests.

Superintendents of two of the largest school districts also expressed
concern about funding and said drug policies and student conduct codes
are already in place at the local level.

"Just the idea that we would have to have that kind of state control
over extracurricular activities is kind of abhorrent to me, in that
it's not something that should be state mandated," said Dick Kuntz,
assistant superintendent of secondary education for Great Falls Public
Schools.

Mary Vagner, superintendent of Missoula County Public Schools, agreed.
"I would suggest the Legislature put any money that deals with
educational issues into the general fund, and let the school boards
deal with behavioral issues," she said.

The bill's primary sponsor, Rep. Joan Andersen, R-Fromberg, said a
letter from a Fromberg High senior last spring sparked her interest in
the subject.

Josh Elton, now a freshman at the University of North Dakota in Grand
Forks, told Andersen that he was concerned and frustrated over
widespread student drug use. Andersen felt she couldn't ignore it.

"It appears to be kind of a punitive thing, but I hope it would be
seen as more of a help to students who might be tempted," Andersen
said. "Extracurricular activities are not mandatory, they're a choice
a student makes. So I really don't think it's an invasion of privacy."

HB81 also requires random testing of 10 percent of activity
participants during the season, which Barbero said is the reason drug
testing works.

"Random testing is the wild card that keeps the kids from using after
the initial testing," he said. "I think when people understand that
we're not trying to discriminate against anyone, that it's more of a
deterrent, they'll realize it's best for the kids."

Andersen said the drug tests have been estimated to cost nearly $40
each. Barbero, who admitted that his interest in the bill is partly
because his school could use the financial help, placed the cost to
his district at about $10,000 a year. The money comes from the
school's general fund.

However, Andersen said the state's economic straits leave the future
of the bill in doubt. She had originally planned to delve into the
state's share of the tobacco lawsuit settlement, but changed her mind
when she saw that other legislators had the same idea for their programs.

"I do not want to pass on an unfunded mandate to local school boards,
because they're having a hard enough time meeting their budgets," said
Andersen, who included a provision in the bill that limits testing to
years the Legislature earmarks funding for it.

Haugen, with the MHSA, said his organization has had schools ask for
research on the subject in the past, but said he believes funding has
always been the biggest drawback.

"I would assume that with what's happening with drugs and alcohol in
this country that might be a future step," he said. "I don't think our
board would take a stand on it, and it's always been something we left
up to local control."