WINDSOR SCHOOL DISTRICT DEBATES DRUG TESTING FOR STUDENTS IN
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Students involved in extracurricular activities in the Windsor school
district might soon be randomly tested for drugs and alcohol under a
proposal being discussed this week.

A meeting with parents about the idea is scheduled for Tuesday night
at Windsor High School.

The district also is asking parents and students to respond to a
survey posted on the district's website: weldre4.k12.co.us. The
survey will gather comments for about a week, school officials said.

The district wants a lot of input on the pros and cons of random
testing before a decision is made, said Dave Nicholl, the district's
student assistance coordinator.

"There's been plenty of conversation on both sides of the issue, and
that's what we want," Nicholl said. "The district wants to hear what
the community wants to do."

More than 4,000 U.S. schools, including a handful in Colorado, have
random-testing programs for students, said Windsor High principal
Jeanne Findley.

"This a trend that's growing," she said.

Officials in Windsor began talking about random drug testing when the
results of a county-wide survey of teens indicated drug use was on
the rise, Findley said.

"It was up, but Windsor, I think, is no different than neighboring
schools," Findley said. "But here we decided we'd just jump right in
and address the issue head-on."

The district is also considering a "suspicion-based" system, in which
a student would be tested if a teacher or administrator suspects the
student has been using drugs, Nicholl said.

"We're looking at this as just part of a tool kit to prevent drug
abuse," he said.