VAN BUREN SCHOOL BOARD ADOPTS DRUG-SCREENING POLICY

Van Buren students who want to take part in any extracurricular activities
this year will be required to participate in the school district's new
drug-screening policy.

The Van Buren School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to implement a policy
that requires random drug testing.

Activities Director Randy Loyd said the policy follows the lead of several
other state schools, including Greenwood, Springdale and Rogers, that
require drug testing of their students.

The policy will affect more than 80 percent of the students who attend Van
Buren High School, Butterfield Junior High and Coleman Junior High.

The policy affects not only athletes, but students wanting to participate
in more than 36 activities, including clubs such as Fellowship of Christian
Athletes and the Odyssey of the Mind Club.

Van Buren Superintendent Merle Dickerson said drug testing is another tool
that will be available to help students say no to drugs and alcohol.

"It is not intended to be a disciplinary tool. It is a tool for parents and
students to use to say no. This is similar to a court-tested policy and has
all the proper elements," said Dickerson.

Van Buren's policy was developed by a local task force. Parents were given
an opportunity to review the policy in July during a public meeting.

Dickerson said he has not heard anyone voice opposition to the policy.

Loyd said he doesn't suspect that Van Buren's schools have a serious drug
problem, but the policy will be a deterrent.

"Our kids are buzzing about it, which is good. It is another positive we
can give our kids," he said.

The policy stipulates each student's name will be placed in a computerized
pool, with several names being pulled randomly for drug screening at
various times throughout the school year.

Students who test positive for alcohol or drugs once will be placed on
probation and will be suspended from participating in activities for 20
days. In addition, the student will be recommended for counseling and must
retest on the 21st day.

The student then must submit to a mandatory drug screening on a monthly basis.

A second positive test in the same year or any two consecutive calendar
years will result in suspension of participating in activities for the
remainder of the school year.

A third positive will result in the student's being banned from
participating in extracurricular activities for the remainder of his or her
enrollment.

Loyd said it will take approximately two weeks to establish the testing
pool once school begins and random testing will start shortly after that.