DIAMOND BOARD CONSIDERS DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM

DIAMOND, Mo. - Trish Greenwood hears talk of Diamond students using
drugs, and knows there's only so much the school can do about it.

It's frustrating, said the Diamond School Board member, and she
doesn't want her child in an environment where other students use drugs.

"Kids are under peer pressure, no matter how you look at it," she
said.

Diamond school officials are considering making a change.

On Thursday night, Greenwood and the rest of the school board asked
school administrators to look into the possibility of instituting a
drug-testing policy in the Diamond R-4 School District.

Jim Cummins, high-school principal, said some district coaches and
administrators have already asked other districts about their
drug-testing policies, and he hopes to have enough information
compiled to present some options to the board at its meeting next
month. Cummins acknowledged that students using drugs during
non-school hours is a problem, and coaches, teachers and parents have
expressed concern.

"It's not a group of kids, it's not a specific class," he said. "We
have an issue with what kids are doing on the weekends and outside of
school, and those are the kids who are representing us. They're the
ones marching in the band performing in a parade, or on Friday night,
or on Tuesday night or whenever their activity is. We want to put
forth kids to the community who are doing the right thing."

Superintendent Mark Mayo said the middle-school principal is also in
favor of drug testing.

The Safe School Act gives school administrators the ability to deal
with a student who comes to school impaired, but doesn't give schools
the ability to address drug use when it happens off school property.

Cummins said he would support a plan that mandates all students
participating in extracurricular activities agree to participating in
a random-testing program. A violation could result in a student being
barred from activities, he said. A program that doesn't require
students to agree to submit to testing didn't work in a district where
Cummins previously worked.

"The only way that works is if you can get 90 to 95 percent
participation, and there's some pressure on those who don't sign up,"
he said. "If there's 30 to 40 percent participation, that doesn't do
much for the credibility of the program."

Webb City schools adopted a random drug-testing program this year for
students taking part in extracurricular and co-curricular activities,
and board member Larry Hicks suggested examining the process the
district went through to put its policy in place.

If a drug-testing program were put in place, school officials said
they hope it would act as a way to deter students from using drugs.
Cummins said the threat of being disqualified from extracurricular
activities could provide students an excuse if they're in an
environment where drugs are being used.

"I am for anything that gives students another reason to say no," he
said. "If a student can say no to a peer and use me or the school's
policy as an excuse, I'm all for it."

Members Greenwood, Mike Harp, Larry Hicks, Paul Holland Jr., Steve
Johnson, Janice Stirewalt and Wayne Webb attended the meeting. The
board's next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 11.

Superintendent's office: (417) 325-5186