BARTLESVILLE APPROVES STUDENT DRUG TESTS

BARTLESVILLE -- Students participating in Bartlesville Public Schools
extracurricular activities will be subject to random drug tests under a
policy approved by the school board. The plan will affect athletes, music
performers, debate team members, theater participants and other students
involved in after-school activities.

"There will be much discussion and decisions before it is implemented,"
said Christina Hoskin, the schools' spokeswoman. "It will take six months
and maybe next school year before it will take effect."

The board's approval came after the plan was rejected last year over
concerns about its cost and effectiveness, but supporters insisted such
tests have been successful in other districts, and only one school board
member voted against it.

Under the policy, a student in the ninth through the 12th grades who has a
confirmed positive drug test will be suspended from extracurricular
activities for 30 days.

That suspension can be trimmed to 10 days if the student completes an
eight-hour substance abuse course. A second positive test within one school
year will lead to suspensions from activities for 18 weeks.

Policy backers say the tests will deter teenagers from using drugs and give
them an excuse when peers pressure them to use drugs. Critics say the tests
target a student population at low risk for drug use and amount to illegal
searches.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 upheld a random drug testing policy for
students in extracurricular activities at the Tecumseh School District.

Since then, few districts have adopted such a policy, largely because of
the cost.