LAKE CENTRAL EYES DRUG TESTING

School Board members indicate support for policy to test students for
various ilegal substances.

ST. JOHN -- The Lake Central School Board is beginning to work on a policy
that would allow student drug testing

in the district.

Mark Williams, president of Indianapolis-based Indiana Te

sting Inc., summarized typical policies and procedures in place throughout
the state and answered questions during a board meeting this week.

He said the company conducts testing for every city and town in Lake County
except Gary, East Chicago and Hobart. It also performs tests in 125 school
districts throughout the state, including testing many bus drivers.

About 30 school districts in the state currently test students, but that
number is increasing by about six every semester, he said.

The law allows school districts to conduct drug tests on students who are in
extra-curricular activities or who drive to school, Williams said.
Currently, Lake Central has no policy on drug testing.

"Drug use is a serious problem and it affects everybody," Williams said.
"What we try to do is to identify a problem -- not punish or penalize
students."

School districts are able to set their own parameters. Normally, urine
samples are screened for nine drugs including amphetamines, barbiturates,
marijuana, cocaine and opiates.

Steroids are detected through another test, and many districts are including
tests for nicotine, Williams said.

Indiana Testing conducts the entire test for $29 a sample. If school
personnel are trained to administer the tests, the cost is $19.

"The biggest thing we see is that it brings the drug problem right up front
where it should be," Williams said. "If you keep giving it to (students) and
discuss the issue in small groups, some of the students begin to understand
the seriousness of it."

Board members agreed that drug testing is necessary.

"I am in favor of this," board member Debra Phelps said. "We don't want to
catch kids -- we want kids not to take drugs."

"We can give them ample warning that this is what we're going to do, and
they'll have plenty of time to stop what they are doing."

"Any time that adults can give our kids a reason to say no, then we have
helped them," board President Nancy Gray said

Superintendent Janet Emerick said the administration would begin developing
a policy and seek input from various individuals and groups and then bring
it to the board for further evaluation.

"If we're going to do this, we need to put it in place and then communicate
it well," Emerick said, "and then give the kids a chance."