News (Media Awareness Project) - US KS: Caldwell School Drug Policy Adopted By More Districts |
| Title: | US KS: Caldwell School Drug Policy Adopted By More Districts |
| Published On: | 2000-08-20 |
| Source: | Wichita Eagle (KS) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 12:00:25 |
CALDWELL SCHOOL DRUG POLICY ADOPTED BY MORE DISTRICTS
CALDWELL, Kan. --The school district in this small south Kansas town was the
first in the state to implement random drug testing for student- athletes.
Other districts are following suit -- and like Caldwell, they're in small
towns.
The Bluestem district, in the Flint Hills east of Wichita, added its own
policy in 1998. The district in Columbus, in southeast Kansas, will start
testing this fall.
And now, the Silver Lake district near Topeka is looking at a testing
policy.
"It's a sad statement about where we are in society when we have to deal
with this," said Robert Herbig, the Caldwell district's superintendent.
"This is our small part of trying to address a serious issue in the
district."
Caldwell's concerns began in earnest in 1997, when several students were
arrested for using and selling marijuana. A marijuana pipe was found in the
school's shop area and athletes allegedly used marijuana during a
tournament.
This is how Caldwell's system works:
A Topeka lab draws from the pool of Caldwell students to randomly select
those who should be tested, and the school nurse then obtains a sample and
sends it back to Topeka for analysis. The lab, which tests for alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs, first notifies parents of positive tests and then
notifies the school district.
In two years, Caldwell received roughly 10 positive tests -- two of them for
cocaine, Herbig said.
The Bluestem district consulted with Caldwell as it created its own policy,
said Dale Harper, principal of Bluestem High School.
This fall, Bluestem will begin testing hair instead of urine samples. Hair
has an advantage because drugs can be detected in the hair for up to 90
days, which means students must stay clean over the summer, Harper said.
Those tested are athletes, drivers education participants and students who
are volunteered by their parents.
"Obviously I think it's made a great deal of difference," Harper said. "If
there is a negative, it's that kids tend to turn back more to alcohol."
CALDWELL, Kan. --The school district in this small south Kansas town was the
first in the state to implement random drug testing for student- athletes.
Other districts are following suit -- and like Caldwell, they're in small
towns.
The Bluestem district, in the Flint Hills east of Wichita, added its own
policy in 1998. The district in Columbus, in southeast Kansas, will start
testing this fall.
And now, the Silver Lake district near Topeka is looking at a testing
policy.
"It's a sad statement about where we are in society when we have to deal
with this," said Robert Herbig, the Caldwell district's superintendent.
"This is our small part of trying to address a serious issue in the
district."
Caldwell's concerns began in earnest in 1997, when several students were
arrested for using and selling marijuana. A marijuana pipe was found in the
school's shop area and athletes allegedly used marijuana during a
tournament.
This is how Caldwell's system works:
A Topeka lab draws from the pool of Caldwell students to randomly select
those who should be tested, and the school nurse then obtains a sample and
sends it back to Topeka for analysis. The lab, which tests for alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs, first notifies parents of positive tests and then
notifies the school district.
In two years, Caldwell received roughly 10 positive tests -- two of them for
cocaine, Herbig said.
The Bluestem district consulted with Caldwell as it created its own policy,
said Dale Harper, principal of Bluestem High School.
This fall, Bluestem will begin testing hair instead of urine samples. Hair
has an advantage because drugs can be detected in the hair for up to 90
days, which means students must stay clean over the summer, Harper said.
Those tested are athletes, drivers education participants and students who
are volunteered by their parents.
"Obviously I think it's made a great deal of difference," Harper said. "If
there is a negative, it's that kids tend to turn back more to alcohol."
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