SCHOOL BOARD CONSIDERS DRUG TESTING STUDENTS

The Charlotte County School Board suggested moving closer toward a random
drug testing program for middle and high school students during a workshop
Monday.

After reading statistics and testimonies from schools which already
implemented random drug testing plans, the School Board approved the
go-ahead for a pilot program. The program would intially test high school
athletes and students who drive to school for 10 different drugs, alcohol
and possibly nicotine.

Schools are currently allowed to only test students who participate in
extracurricular activities by national law and the board expects the
expanded policy would remain within the confines of that law.

According to Donna Widmeyer, assistant superintendent for school support,
the pilot program would not begin until January 2005 at the earliest, and
probably not until the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year.

Charlotte County has come under fire after surveys found that student drug
use in the county was around the highest in the state. The School Board
enlisted Widmeyer and April Prestipino, the director of student services,
to research the possibility of random drug tests. The results were then
presented Monday to the board, and although it was incomplete, the plan
went over well.

"It's just one piece of a comprehensive program," Prestipino said.

Prestipino and Widmeyer talked to 12 focus groups at different schools
throughout the county. They provided each group with a model drug-testing
plan and took their questions and comments. According to Widmeyer, most of
the participants in the focus groups approved testing.

"Most people seemed to be in favor once their fears were quelled about
privacy, and what they perceived as discrimination," said Widmeyer,
referring to students who participate in extracurriculars as the only ones
to get tested.

Because schools can only test the extracurricular students, many
non-participating students may slip by without getting tested. Of the 278
students who committed a drug offense from February 2003 to March 2004,
only 74 would have been eligible to test by being athletes, drivers or
extracurricular patricipants.

Another snag for the School Board is what to test the pilot group for. The
board temporarily approved of a 10-panel drug screen that would test for,
among others, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and opiates. Alcohol, which
was found to be the drug of choice for students who completed the drug-use
surveys, will also be tested for, although it only stays in the system for
around 36 hours. The decision on testing for nicotine was undecided until
Prestipino and Widmeyer could obtain cost estimates.

The fee for drug testing is another problem. Suggestions on paying for the
tests included applying for grants and asking the Sheriff's Office for some
of the drug forfeiture funds. If those ideas are unsuccessful, the School
Board would have to dig into its general funds.

A number of different vendors to administer and test students were also
considered, but none, including area hospitals, were selected until the
best estimate is found.

"It's not an advantage using our local hospitals," Prestipino said. "It's
very expensive."

Another hot topic in the news, the use of steroids, was discussed, but
deemed not to be enough of a problem in the area to include in the initial
testing process.

"It's (steroid use) not as big a problem as recreational drugs," Prestipino
said. "Recreational drugs certainly overshadow that right now."

Overall, the School Board members approved of the idea, as long as support
groups were well-funded and in place to help the students who do have a
drug problem.

School Board member Sue Sifrit also sees the testing as a way to stop
student drug use without even testing them.

"I really believe this will be a deterrent," Sifrit said, "and help them
have the backbone to say 'no.'"