BEHS TESTS STUDENTS FOR DRUG USE

By Peter Kelley, Staff Writer

BURLINGTON Since the beginning of last school year, the
BurlingtonEdison School District has conducted more than 1,000 drug tests
on students, says assistant high school principal Brian Pendleton.

No other district in Skagit County does this, but Burlington is not about
to stop. Administrators there say the tests are having the desired effect:
Students are violating the school's cocurricular code less often, and know
the consequences when they do.

Some students say their peers are just using different drugs that leave the
body more quickly, and doing more drinking. Others say it keeps students
aware of what is expected of them.

"I think it keeps a lot of people, especially in band anyway, honest," said
Paul Hunter, 17, president of the Associated Students.

"I disagree with the testing. It just makes people do different drugs,"
said Aysha Cromeenes, 17. "And people kind of know when a test is coming up."

"I think the punishment's too weak," said Mike Berentson, 18. "Once you
break the code you should be kicked out for the rest of the year."

Burlington drugtests all students who wish to participate in
extracurricular activities, from chess club to the football team.

Students caught using alcohol or drugs are suspended from extracurricular
activities for 30 days, retested, and sent to drug evaluations. They can
practice or suit up during the suspension, but they can't play in games or
perform in shows. The suspensions do not affect the student's academic
record.

Throughout last year, Pendleton said, a dozen students showed positive
results, either on initial tests before joining their activity, or on
random tests conducted through the year.

So far this year, he said, two students showed positive results on their
initial screenings and four were caught by random screenings.

"The greatest thing I think we are seeing is that we're not just testing to
catch, we're testing to help the students," Pendleton said. "And when we
catch them, they are offered help. It isn't just a condemnation, or a death
sentence."

Through last year, the district budgeted $30,000 for the tests, and spent
about $23,000.

"It has given kids who might have been marginal a reason to say 'No,'"
Pendleton said. "And I tell them, 'You can even blame me.'"