DRUG-TESTING PLAN MET WITH APATHY

When parents in the Francis Howell School District check their mailboxes
Monday, they should find an information packet detailing the district's new
random drug testing program.

The pocket folder will include fact sheets, a booklet and a sample parent
consent form. It is part of the district's information campaign to prepare
parents and students for the program that will begin when high school and
middle school classes resume Aug. 15.

The campaign includes three town hall meetings, including one at 7 p.m.
Monday at Francis Howell High School and another at 7 p.m. Tuesday at
Francis Howell Central High School.

The first meeting drew only 10 parents Thursday night at Francis Howell
North High School.

"It concerns me that there were not more parents here," said Karen Yarde,
mother of two district students. "I hope it does not indicate parental
apathy. I hope parents will be onboard for this program."

Some of the attendees said the district did not adequately publicize the
meeting.

Jim Joyce, Francis Howell communications director, said the district on
July 18 sent notices to parents via first-class mail. The district also
advertised the meeting in its electronic newsletter and on its Web site.
Joyce said a rainstorm Thursday night probably discouraged some people from
attending.

"We're looking forward to a bigger turnout for the next two meetings," he said.

The 10 parents gathered in the first two rows of the Howell North
auditorium to hear Joyce describe the drug testing program and answer
audience questions.

Francis Howell is the first district in the St. Louis area to institute
mandatory random drug testing.

The program will cost about $60,000 annually and will test approximately
800 high school students, 20 percent of the total students participating in
extracurricular activities or holding campus parking permits. Students will
not be able to park on campus or participate in after-school activities
without enrolling in the drug-testing program.

Parents of middle school students will be able to enroll their children in
a voluntary drug-testing program.

Students will be randomly selected to produce a urine sample, which will be
immediately tested onsite. Joyce said samples will be collected on Mondays
and Tuesdays to detect drugs used during the weekend. The student will
return to class not knowing the test results, Joyce said.

"But obviously, if they used drugs, they know the test will be positive,"
he said.

If a sample tests positive, it will be sent to a laboratory for analysis by
Clinical Collection Management. The Webster Groves-based company will
screen the sample to detect marijuana, opiates, cocaine, methamphetamines,
anabolic steroids, benzodiazepine and Ecstasy. The lab will return results
in 24 hours.

Audience members asked if secondhand inhalation of marijuana smoke could
produce a positive test result. Joyce said the laboratory analysis would
detect the secondhand marijuana, but not at a level sufficient to register
as positive.

Other parents asked if antihistamines like Sudafed would register as
positive. Joyce said Sudafed could result in a positive test, but that is
one reason why a medical review officer from Clinical Collection Management
will consult with the parents or guardian to address the validity and
accuracy of every positive test.

The medical review officer will determine if the child is using
antihistamines, antidepressants or other medication that could produce a
positive result. Parents will be able to appeal the result, but they will
have to pay for an additional third-party lab test.

Joyce said district personnel will be the last to know that a student
tested positive. They will be notified only after the medical review
officer and the parents agree that the test was indeed positive.

The student will be removed from extracurricular activities and lose
parking privileges for 10 days. They will be required to complete a
four-week counseling program at Bridgeway Counseling Services. Students who
test positive a second time will be excluded from activities for 90 days
and complete six-to-eight weeks of counseling.