PROGRAM A 'TOOL TO KEEP KIDS SAFE'

PLEASANT VIEW -- High schools in Weber School District are giving
kids an excuse to say no to drugs and alcohol.

In order to participate in such extracurricular activities as sports,
student government, cheerleading, drama, debate, the band or choir
this year, students must submit to random drug testing.

"This is a way to say, 'I am on the team and can't do this if I want
to stay on the squad,' " said Weber High School Principal Steve Elsnab.

Bonneville High School implemented drug testing during 2008-09, and
things went so smoothly, the program was expanded to other high
schools in the district.

Administrators at Weber, Bonneville, Roy and Fremont high schools all
agree the program has been successful.

"They (students) are faced with choices all the time. When they go
out on a weekend to a party, it gives kids an excuse to say no,"
Elsnab said. "It helps them avoid a regret that will haunt them for
the rest of their lives."

Each student participating in an extracurricular activity is assigned
a random number and placed on a list. The average number of students
in the name pool per high school is 300.

Each week, five students from each school are randomly selected and
privately sent to the bathroom with a cup for a urinalysis, which
costs $15 apiece. The test detects any illegal drugs or alcohol in
the student. Steroids are not detected.

Last year, Bonneville tested 95 students, and only three came out
positive.

If a student tests positive, parents and coaches are informed and the
student is ineligible to participate for two weeks as required by
rules of the Utah High School Activities Association. The student is
not disciplined by the school.

"The purpose is not to catch them, but to deter them from drugs and
alcohol," Elsnab said.

This year, each school has tested about 35 students, and zero have
turned up positive.

"The kids understand it, and it helps for a better culture at the
school. Most don't even know it's happening," said Weber High
Assistant Principal Rod Belnap, adding that Weber students are
rewarded with a free drink at the school store following their test.

Bonneville High Principal Leslie Meyer pioneered the pilot program
for the district in 2008-09 after seeing it work at Rich High in Randolph.

Because parents were informed and privacy issues addressed, the only
snag has been an occasional false positive test result because of a
student's medication, Meyer said.

"Once the preliminary work was done, things ran smoothly."

The PTA paid for the tests at Bonneville last year. This year, the
school district allocated a student fee of $1 to cover the cost of
the tests. Any expenses beyond that must be covered by each school,
said district spokesman Nate Taggart.

Meyer said the tests are very accurate and it would be extremely
difficult for a student to beat it.

"It's really an intervention to a possible long-term problem," Meyer
said. "If you can stop them in high school instead of age 25, how
great is that? If we could stop even just one student, that is worth
it. We hope the team is more important than a joint (of
marijuana)."

Ken Crawford, athletics supervisor for Ogden City School District,
said the district is looking into incorporating a similar program
next year.

Weber School District has also implemented an anonymous tip line
where students can text administrators regarding problems at high
school. Nothing serious has been reported at Weber High yet, Elsnab
said, but perhaps down the road, the tip line will help prevent
something serious.

"If there had been something like this at Columbine, maybe it
wouldn't have happened," Elsnab said of the two students who
terrorized the Colorado high school in 1999, killing 12 students and
one teacher before committing suicide.

"It's just one more tool to help keep kids safe."