RANDOM DRUG TEST TALKS CONTINUE

MT. SHASTA -- A controversial issue Siskiyou Union High School
District has looked at in the past is resurfacing at the request of
the Weed and Mount Shasta high school principals.

The item up for discussion on the district board's agenda July 12 is
random drug testing for elected student officers and students who
participate in athletics.

The issue has been reviewed within several school districts up and
down the state, with one case looked at by the American Civil
Liberties Union. In the end, most districts have opted not to
implement the testing.

Siskiyou Union has been down that road before n this isn't the first
time random tests have been brought up.

District superintendent Dick Holmes said the issue was "looked at"
seven years ago but the district chose a Chemical Awareness Training
program from the Phonix Institute of Arizona instead of random testing.

Adapted from a program originally used by Northern Arizona State's
athletes, the program relied on student-led support groups held
before and after school.

In addition to the Chemical Awareness Training program, Holmes said
that the Siskiyou County office of education also participated and
supported training for student-led groups among the schools.

"If students really wanted to abstain from drug use, they'd join to
reinfornce their refusal and coping skills," Holmes said.

But last year, Holmes said the issue resurfaced after the board was
made aware of a rising drug and alcohol issue among students.

"It caused us to ask if we were effectively addressing the issue," he said.

The proposed plan calls for elected student officers and athletes to
be randomly tested via a swab in the mouth. The frequency or method
is still under discussion but Holmes said two ideas involved either
testing students twice per season or testing five random students
every Monday.

Holmes brought up other high schools in Corning, Colusa and Del
Norte that had "favorable" results as a results of testing implementation.

He said that Fall River High School showed a "decrease" in drug and
alcohol use and that any school that started the testing programs
haven'tstopped.

According to an article titled "Princial: Drug-testing students
works" published on July 12 in USA Today: "In 2005, a Ball State
University survey found declines in drug use at 58% of 54 Indiana
high schools that had testing."

As for the question of cost, Holmes said school nurses would be
utilized for the testing.

But opposition to the program may be ahead.

According to a Drug Policy Alliance report entitled "Challenges to
Drug Testing Programs" which details specific cases from school
districts across the country, the majority of school boards are
reluctant to implement testing.

Some point to briefs filed in Pattawatomie vs. Earl by the American
Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Organization, the
National Education Association and other health and education groups
that all point out that "drug testing is counterproductive to the
goal of reducing drug use among students."

Despite the polarizing opinions, Holmes said the board is willing to
have discussions about the program.

"We're still in the talking stage," said Holmes. "The posture of the
board is to support the principals. But the board wants to hear from
the parents."

And the community at large.

Principal forums at both Weed High School and Mt. Shasta High School
are scheduled for August 7 at 7 p.m.They are open to the public,
according to Holmes, who encourages those concerned over the issue
to come out and voice their opinions the the principals themselves.

"We have a problem," Holmes said. "But the drug use and the alcohol
abuse are only symptoms of the problem. There are other ways - if
the community and the parents can come together with something
that's effective."

Two days later on Aug. 9, the board will discuss the matter once
more and then vote on the issue.

Holmes said that if the board adopts the plan, he hopes students
will look at it as "another tool in their toolbox for life."

"We not trying to bust kids," Holmes said. "It's a mechanism so they
have another reason to say no to drugs," he said.