ANDERSON CONSIDERS DRUG TESTS

Several north state schools already test student-athletes for drugs,
including Corning, Hayfork, Fall River and Central Valley high schools.

ANDERSON - Trying to give student-athletes a good reason to stay away from
drugs, the Anderson Union High School District will consider implementing
random drug testing next year.

Trustees will decide during a 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday whether to test
some of the district's 800 athletes for drugs.

"We're trying to provide a safe and healthy environment for our kids - to
give them a concrete reason to say no," said Tom Mancuso, athletic director
at Anderson High School. "Other kids can go, `Who's going to catch you?'
And they can say, `Well, on Monday if they do a urine test, I'm caught.' "

Under the plan, athletes and their parents would be required to give
written consent for the tests before participating in sports. Those who
don't will not be allowed to play.

Though the district won't actually be able to test for tobacco and alcohol,
those substances are also taboo, Mancuso said.

About 200 students would be randomly chosen for tests at each high school
throughout the year, Mancuso said.

Positive test results would be confirmed with another test, and parents
would be notified if the second test is positive.

For the first offense, athletes can attend counseling and take six weekly
drug tests at their expense, or be suspended from athletics for the rest of
the season.

"(Offering counseling) is one way of helping them out," said Mancuso, who
drafted the plan with West Valley High School athletic director Emmett
Koerperick.

For the second offense, the student would be suspended from athletics for
the current season and the next season.

Third-time offenders would be suspended from athletics for the rest of
their high school careers.

Refusal to be tested would be treated the same as a positive test.

Tests run about $20 each, so the program should cost about $8,000 for both
schools. The district has written a grant proposal to Shasta County Public
Health and also plans to ask service clubs and businesses for help in
financing the program.

The athletic boosters clubs have already committed to donating money, and
the district will pick up the rest, Mancuso said.

Corning High School adopted a random drug testing policy in May 1996, about
a year after the practice was found constitutional by the U.S. Supreme
Court. Hayfork and Fall River started in January 1997, and Central Valley
High School followed in August.

Foothill High School has also looked into the idea, but the Shasta Union
High School District board has yet to consider it formally.

Less than 1 percent of Central Valley High's tests turned up positive, said
Gretchen Hanson, assistant superintendent of the Gateway Unified School
District. More than 100 students were tested.

Parents and athletes have been receptive to the practice, she said.

"Many of the students were glad because it gave them an excuse not to (use
drugs)," Hanson said. "They didn't want to take the chance."

The Anderson district's policy is modeled after the one in Veronia, Ore.,
that was ruled constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Athletic directors
also used input from coaches and administrators from schools that already
test students.

"Our whole purpose behind this is preventative," Mancuso said. "I hope we
don't catch a single kid. If we can help them to say no and prevent
problems, we'll be really happy. If we do catch kids and get them some
help, that would be another positive for the program."

Reporter Kerri Regan can be reached at 225-8215 or at kregan@recsearch.com
by e-mail.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski