ATHERTON MOVING SLOWLY BUT SURELY TOWARD TESTING FOR DRUGS

ATHERTON - After months of silence, Atherton School District
officials say they are moving ahead with a random drug-testing
program for student-athletes, similar to those at Grand Blanc and Lake Fenton.

Lawyers for the district are reviewing a draft policy that could go
before the Board of Education over the next couple of months.

"I hoped to have something in place by August, but I guess we won't
have it by then," Superintendent Mark Madden said. "This a very major
undertaking, and I don't want to do this without making sure we're
following the protocol."

Atherton would be the fourth Genesee County school district to adopt
a random testing plan, following Grand Blanc, Lake Fenton and Clio.

Under proposed guidelines aired in public hearings early this year, a
fifth of student-athletes would be randomly tested each month by a
company hired to run the program.

A student who tests positive for an illegal substance would have to
undergo drug counseling and submit to weekly tests or be forced to
leave competitive sports for the year. A third positive test would
result in a permanent ban.

Fewer than 10 people showed up for public hearings in January and
February, most of whom raised concerns or spoke against the idea.

But overall, the community has been supportive, officials said.

"Most of the community has been in major support of it," Madden said.
"The kids have been very supportive. Those are the ones who came down
here and told me. They see it as a deterrent."

School board President Bette Bigsby said the most vocal opponents
attended the public hearings.

"But one on one, the majority of people we talk to are in support of
it," she said.

Attorneys are fly-specking the proposed guidelines and suggesting
changes to protect the district, Madden said.

Bigsby said the guidelines will go back to the policy committee and
eventually on to the full board for consideration, probably by October.

The guidelines would get three readings before being adopted, she said.

The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which
unsuccessfully challenged Grand Blanc's testing program, received a
call about Atherton's plans, member Gregory T. Gibbs said.

"We gave him some information," said Gibbs, a Flint attorney. "We'll
take any complaint and review it, and decide whether or not to
challenge it. But without one (being adopted), there's not much we can do."