SOUTHEASTERN STUDENTS FACE DRUG TESTS

The intense sprints in the August heat made Brad Roberts sweat beneath
his red football jersey Tuesday.

Southeastern Local School District's new drug testing policy, however,
is no sweat. The Miami View Middle School seventh-grader said he
doesn't have anything to worry about.

"I think it's good," said Roberts, 13.

He doesn't think all his schoolmates would agree. He said he's heard
grumbling from other students unhappy about the new policy being
implemented this year to test students for drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

Information on the testing will be passed out to students today, their
first day back to school. The tests will begin in a few weeks.

Southeastern Superintendent John Weaver said the policy is similar to
the one Northeastern Local School District implemented last year.

Almost all Southeastern students in grades 7 through 12 will start the
year with a drug test and be subject to random tests throughout the
year. Athletes and students participating in extracurricular
activities will be tested, as well as everyone applying for a parking
permit. Students won't be tested if they don't participate in
activities or park on school property.

"There's talk going on in the community that our kids are doing some
partying they shouldn't be doing," Weaver said.

Substance abuse is a concern in any district, and any school official
who doesn't think so is naive, he said.

"Kids will definitely tell you they can find any drug they want,"
Southeastern High School Principal Susan Cline said.

The school board approved the testing policy this month. Southeastern
had a community meeting with parents in June to discuss the proposal.

"We have heard a few parents who are opposing it, but for the most
part the overwhelming majority tend to be coming up to administration
and board members and thanking them," Weaver said.

Tests will screen for alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, anabolic steroids,
cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, PCP, amphetamines, barbiturates,
benzodiazepines such as Valium, opiates such as morphine and codeine,
methadone, methaqualone and propoxyphene. Students will be penalized
for nicotine even if they are 18. Tobacco use is against athletic policy.

Parents and students must pay the $26 fee for the initial test. The
school district will pay for the random tests. Weaver declined to give
specific figures but said the testing will cost the district between
$2,500 and $10,000.

Cline said most students she's talked to are fine with the idea of
testing. A few adults have complained that the testing is an invasion
of privacy, though. She has a reminder for them.

"Keep in mind it's illegal for kids to be involved in this activity,"
she said.

Other parents find the policy reassuring. They can request the school
test their child if they suspect he or she is abusing substances.

Cline said the drug testing is about student safety. She said the
policy isn't punitive.

"I don't want to catch kids. I want to prevent them from using," she
said.

However, if they do decide to use substances and they get caught,
there will be consequences. Notification of the results will be sent
to the parents, principal, superintendent, athletic director and the
assistant to the athletic director.

The first time a student tests positive, he or she will have to
complete a drug and alcohol program and take five follow-up drug tests
at the student's expense. Parking on district property will be denied
for 30 school days.

If a student-athlete tests positive during the sports season, he or
she won't be allowed to participate in 30 percent of the regular
season games.

On the second violation, a student will be barred from participating
in any athletic or extra-curricular activity for the rest of the year,
and he or she won't be allowed to park on school property. The third
time, the student will lose those privileges for the remainder of his
or her time in the district.

Weaver hopes it won't come to that.

"I think for the most part, the kids will always rise to what the
expectations are, and we're going to make the expectations clear," he
said.