DRUG POLICY TO SEE CHANGES

Recommendation To Keep Offenders From Practices

The new drug-testing policy for the Wichita Falls Independent School
District is so new it hasn't even been officially tested yet, but
it's already getting a tweaking.

At least, it's expected to, once administrators get a chance to study
a warning passed along by Dr. Harvey Graves, founder and CEO of
Pinnacle Medical Management Corp., the company hired by the district
to handle its drug testing.

Graves advised WFISD officials that if athletes test positive for
drug use and are suspended according to district rules, they should
not be allowed to practice with their teams.

Current rules allow practice time for suspended students.

In the new setup, suspended athletes would be expected to attend
practices but would not be allowed to participate.

The suggestion passed on by Graves is considered a health and safety
issue, he said.

It grew out of the real-life tragedy of a football player who had
been using drugs and died on a practice field.

"We're thinking in terms of health and safety of kids," said Ken
Hines, WFISD board president. "Is a kid at risk because he has a drug
in his system if he's participating in practice?"

Until now, it's been thought that keeping a suspended athlete
involved in his sport would help his morale.

But that was before health issues were considered, according to Dr.
Dawson Orr, WFISD superintendent.

"If they were participating and collapsed, the district would have
potential liability," he said.

It's still unclear whether such a caution would apply to students
participating in other extra-curricular activities, Orr said.

"Does a student who is breaking down sets or in band during marching
season face the same risks?" Orr said. "We'll take the safe course.
We'll limit participation while we gather more information."

WFISD's Director of Legal Services Angela Michael will study how
other school districts deal with suspended students.

Coaches who had been informed of the possible change expressed no
concerns about it, said Ronnie Faulkner, WFISD's athletics director.
"Obviously, coaches would love to have them (practice). But the
overriding concern is that this is for the health and safety of the kids."

A formal change in the district's policy is expected this fall.