DRUG-TESTING PROGRAM TO BEGIN IN FALL

Some Webb City Students Will Be Subject To Random Tests

WEBB CITY, Mo. - Random drug testing will begin this fall for some Webb
City students.

On Tuesday, the Webb City R-7 School Board approved a plan to begin random
testing. Drug testing will be mandatory for all students participating in
high school extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and will be open
to voluntary participation by all students in grades seven to 12, said
Randy Richardson, athletic director. Parents of students not involved in
activities may enroll their children.

Webb City's policy is similar to those in place in Carthage, Carl Junction
and other area districts, Richardson said.

Another area district is considering a similar policy.

Sarcoxie Superintendent Charles Price said the Sarcoxie R-2 School Board
will begin discussing whether to implement random drug testing in the next
few months.

"Right now we are going slow," Price said. "I just gave the board some
information to read and come back with questions."

Webb City parents and high-school football players applauded an
announcement of the new policy at Tuesday's meeting, Richardson said.

Brent Bertelsen, a high-school senior, participates in football, track,
jazz band and several other activities. He said he welcomes the new policy.

"I think it is a good idea because it gives kids a reason to say 'no' to
drugs, and also it gives the people who don't do things like that a fair
chance," Bertelsen said. "It improves decision-making as a whole."

Testing will be conducted twice a month at the high school, Richardson
said. A private company will collect urine samples from about 15 students,
chosen at random, during each testing period.

The tests will cost about $15 each, he said. The program is estimated to
cost the district $4,050 a year.

Superintendent Ron Lankford has said the district will pay for the testing
with money from a federal Drug Free School and Community Grant that the
district already receives. The district will shift funding from some
elementary-level drug-prevention programs to drug testing, he said.

The policy calls for a participant to be suspended for 40 percent of the
season or activity schedule after the first offense. For example,
Richardson said, a football player with a positive test would have to sit
out four games of a 10-game season.

The punishment would be reduced to 20 percent if the student participated
in a drug-treatment program, Richardson said.

A second offense would lead to a 90-day suspension from activities,
Richardson said. A third offense would prohibit the student from
participating in activities for the remainder of high school, he said.

Students would be allowed to stay in activity programs after the first two
positive tests. Richardson said that would allow coaches and others to help
the student overcome drugs.

"We feel like we can help the students in our programs," he said.