PASS OR FAIL? 4 SCHOOL DISTRICTS EMPLOY RANDOM DRUG TESTING, OTHERS USE
ALTERNATIVES

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS -- Late last month, Carterville became the fourth school
district in Southern Illinois to adopt random drug testing of students
enrolled in extra-curricular activities.

"I'm very pleased with the way things went for a first time," said Principal
Don Smith. "We tested less than 10 students and had no issues with either
the students or their parents."

Smith said both Athletic Director Todd Rogers and Crystal Young, school
district nurse, are in charge of administering the tests and collecting the
urine samples from students. The samples are then sent to a lab in Bethesda,
Md.

Results are available in two days.

"We had no positive tests. I check the results on a secure Web site," Smith
said. "The school district has very limited involvement."

Smith said the district chose the same drug-testing firm that handles the
district's testing of prospective bus drivers. "We've had a history with
this company. There have been no problems or complaints voiced by
employees."

Rogers said random drug testing helps protect students who do not break the
rules.

"What we're trying to do is give kids another reason to say no to drugs," he
said. "If one kid makes the right decision, this is a worthwhile program."

Rogers said the drug testing will be done periodically for the remainder of
the school year and at different times of the day.

"If a test result comes out positive, that student is suspended from
participating in that extra-curricular event for a one-year period -- unless
he or she willingly participates in a licensed drug counseling program and
subsequent drug tests are negative. In that case, the student could be
reinstated in a couple of weeks."

Students would be required to miss about 20 percent of the scheduled events.

"We have 460 kids at our high school," Rogers said. "And a large percentage
of those kids are involved in extra-curricular activities. Only those
students in activities which receive a letter grade are exempt from
testing."

Eldorado, Harrisburg, and Herrin are the other school districts that have
implemented drug testing in the region.

Principal Terry Ryker at Herrin high school said 40 students have been
tested since the program was implemented a couple of months ago. "We've had
one student test positive," Ryker said. "And we've taken all the corrective
steps to give the boy the help that he needs."

Ryker said the student, an underclassman participating in athletics, could
regain his athletic eligibility this spring if he completes counseling
appointments and passes forthcoming drug tests.

"The student has been referred to our Student Assistance Program," Ryker
said. "Hopefully, he'll be reinstated sometime next month." Random drug
testing at Herrin will continue through the end of school. Cost is $5 per
student tested. The school district received an in-kind contribution last
year from a private party to help pay for the random drug testing of
students.

Du Quoin superintendent Gary Kelly said the idea of random drug testing is
no longer on the front burner with school officials. "We've not gone
anywhere with it," he said. "Our attorney has said that we might want to
look into testing students if we have probable cause or suspicion of drug
use, but that's about it.

"As things stand now, we ask parents to have their child tested if we
suspect drug use. And most of the time, parents have complied with our
request."

Carbondale high school Principal John Dively said there is absolutely no
discussion of random drug testing in Carbondale at present. "We have a
Student Assistance Program for the kids," he said. "It's a program that
provides students with the resources they need to deal with a number of
problems."

Those students who are caught using drugs are, according to the student
handbook, suspended from participation in extra-curricular activities.

Murphysboro Principal Eric Hutt, a first-year administrator, said he doesn't
think random drug testing has been discussed at any level by educators and
is not necessarily the best route for school districts to take with
students.

"Who's going to share the burden of expense?" Hutt asked. "I don't think it
(drug testing) is necessary. We're not in a position (financially) to do
anything right now."

Hutt said any student who violates the student handbook by partaking in
drugs or alcohol is subject to losing out on a percentage of that event
schedule. "If someone is caught, I would, of course, push drug counseling to
the parents of that student," he said.