TRUSTEES TABLE DRUG POLICY

School trustees delayed action on a student drug testing policy Monday
to examine the details.

They set a meeting for Monday, July 26, as a workshop and date to
adopt a policy in its final form.

Superintendent Maxie Morgan presented a policy to the board he said
was developed with the help of school district attorneys that was
"similar, basically, the same as, the Troy ISD policy."

The policy, which calls for random testing of all students involved in
extracurricular activities, deals a six-school-week suspension for the
first offense, a 12 month suspension and drug counseling paid for by
the student's family for the second and bans students from
extracurricular activities for the remainder of their time in CISD on
a third offense.

The list of extracurricular activities includes all UIL events, Ballet
Folklorico, Class Favorites, Class Officers, FFA and Junior FFA, Flame
King and Queen, Homecoming Court, Junior and Senior Prom Royalty,
Science Club and all other school-sponsored activities.

"Is this the punishment we want?" Trustee Michael Watkins asked. "Has
everyone thought this all the way through? Do we want to partner with
them (families) to help the child overcome their problem? Then if they
do two years later, do we not want to ever let him back into
extracurricular activities."

Trustee Curtis Hoyle said, yes, "Sometimes you have to send some tough
messages."

Board member Carl Bradley made the initial call to table the policy.
"To me, the thing we need to do is table it and get together and work
something out."

"I'm for drug testing," Board Member Mike Zajicek said. "But I'll turn
against it when I see we can't help these people. I have a problem
with the three strikes and you're out. I'd like to feel better about
who's going to have this information on campus. ... I'd rather have
that in place before I approve it.

"No matter what happens, this is going to cost us money," he
continued. "I want us to do it right and I want it to be something to
help people, not something to punish people."

Principal Clint McMahon said, "There's just a lot of things here, a
lot of things to consider." He noted the community drug testing
committee last fall expressed concerns over the consequences in the
Troy policy, confidentiality and ensuring help was available for
students who tested positive.

Because the final form of the policy has not been written, the cost of
the program is impossible to estimate. Each test will cost the
district $20-$25 and district estimates say 80 percent of CISD
students in seventh-12th grade, over 500 kids, participate in
extracurricular activities.

Trustees decided to take up those issues at a July 26 special meeting,
which will also include a budget workshop.

Highlights of the Currently Proposed Policy

* In order for students in seventh through 12th grade to be involved
in extracurricular activities, parents must consent to their students
being randomly drug tested. Parents may choose to have their students
participate even if they are not in extracurricular activities and no
penalties will befall students who are tested solely under parental
consent.

* Students can be tested up to 15 times a year as determined by the
district. They will be selected by a random computer program that will
help ensure all students are tested at least once throughout the year.
"Under no circumstances may a representative of the district request
that a specific student be selected for testing."

* May test for alcohol, amphetamines/methamphetamine, opiates
(morphine and codine), cocaine, phencycledene (PCP), marijuana,
ecstasy, and others

* Confirmed positive test results are "cumulative from grades 7-12.
Previous violations, regardless of elapsed time/years, shall be a
precursor for determining penalties for subsequent
violations."

After a Positive Test

* Student and parents or guardians will have a chance to provide
information on prescription or nonprescription drugs or other relevant
medical information which will be reviewed by a medical review officer
who will modify or uphold the finding.

* The MRO will notify the superintendent's designee of confirmed
positive results and the designee will notify the student and the
parents or guardians.

First Offense Consequences

* Mandatory conference with campus principal for students and
guardians

* Conference with district-employed counselor

* Must agree to mandatory testing in next three random
periods

* Suspended from competition or public performance for six school
weeks (if in final six weeks of school, penalty will continue as
necessary into the next school year). Suspension won't prevent
students from competing for future offices, positions or team/squad
memberships

Second Offense Consequences

* Suspended from extracurricular performances or competitions for 12
months from the date they are informed of the positive results.
Students won't be allowed to compete for future offices, positions or
team/squad memberships during the 12-month suspension

* Successfully complete, at the expense of the parents or guardians,
a drug counseling program approved by the superintendent's designee

* Designee shall re-admit the student into extracurricular
participation after the student has successfully completed the
one-year suspension and the counseling program

* If re-admitted, student must agree to mandatory testing during the
next six random testing periods

Third Offense Consequence

* permanent suspension from all extracurricular participation.

To read a complete copy of the proposed drug testing policy and its
administrative procedures, you may go to the link on our news page, or
call the school district at 254-697-3512.