TRUSTEES APPROVE DRUG TESTING FOR THE FALL

Drug testing will be a reality in the San Marcos CISD for the
2004-2005 school year.

Trustees on Thursday approved a plan to implement random drug testing
for seventh through twelfth grade students involved in extracurricular
activities.

"I am extremely proud of the board of trustees. It takes a lot of
courage to make a decision such as this," Superintendent Syl-vester
Perez said.

Trustees voted 6-0 in favor, with Lupe Costilla abstaining. Costilla
said she had not yet seen the final draft of the proposal, which had
been completed earlier in the day.

Trustee Joe Castillo said that several trustees met at 7 a.m. Thursday
morning to make necessary revisions to the draft, such as the
abolishment of mandatory testing before a student can enter an activity.

According to another revision, no student would be penalized the first
time he or she tested positive, but would be suspended after the
fourth time.

Amid the final hour revisions, Trustee President Barrie Breed said
that the actual policy itself was not being voted on - simply the program.

"We're voting on the program, not the policy," Breed said. "This will
give us some time to work through that policy by May's board meeting."

San Marcos High School coach Steve Van Nest said, however, that the
draft was more or less finished.

"It's already written for the most part," Van Nest said. "We just need
to make sure that the language is right with regard to legal matters."

According to the proposal, approximately 90 names would be drawn
randomly through a computer system once a month, and those chosen
would be forced to test. To lift suspension after the activity (fourth
strike), one would be forced to enter a professional counseling center
- - at the parent's expense.

Trustee Peter Baen said that Hays/Caldwell Center for Drug and Alcohol
Abuse will work with families on an income basis, if cost was an issue
with the parents.

Parent John Engel "begged" trustees not to vote in favor of the
proposal, saying that it created a "double standard."

"This will be a disincentive for kids to be in extracurricular
activities," Engel said. "I personally think the train left the
station and left the kids not in extracurricular activities behind."

Breed and Baen both made commitments to be tested themselves at their
own expense to show support for the policy.

The cost for the program will be approximately $10,000 per year. The
drug testing policy will be re-examined following the next school year.