DRUG TESTING MAY COME TO SCHOOLS

Yancey Wants Athletes, Soe Staffers To Face Random Tests.

OCALA - Marion County student athletes may have to take random drug
tests next school year.

Superintendent of Schools Jim Yancey on Wednesday said he believed
testing is necessary after researching the concept for several years.
He is expected to present a formal policy to School Board members in
the coming weeks.

Yancey, who made the statement during a School Board work session held
to address drug problems, also suggested that the policy be extended
to coaches as well as administrators and other employees.

Specific details regarding the policy were not available Wednesday.
Yancey said administrators had not yet defined consequences for those
who test positive for drugs.

Board members, including Chairman Kurt Kelly, reacted positively to
the idea, including the concept of expanding the policy to all employees.

"I have no problem taking the test myself," Kelly said.

The policy would come at a time when lawmakers have introduced bills
to crack down on drug use. A House committee has moved legislation
that would require random testing for student athletes. A Senate bill
would require middle and high school students to submit to urine
testing to participate in extracurricular activities.

The school system currently conducts drug tests for students under
"reasonable suspicion" but does not have a policy for its more than
2,000 athletes. Certain employees, including bus drivers, are also
subject to testing.

Based on other programs, student athletes could be subject to
unannounced tests and suspended from sports team if they are taking
drugs, said North Marion High athletic director Scott Carpenter, who
strongly supports the policy.

Normally, he said, students must complete additional random tests and
counseling before becoming eligible to compete in sports again.

Carpenter said the testing is normally quick and costs less than $10
per student.

Though only aware of a handful of cases, he said the temptation to use
steroids and other drugs can be especially appealing to students who
idolize certain pro athletes, who have been suspected of using drugs
to enhance performance.

"I think we can bury our heads in the sand and say there's not a
problem," Carpenter said. "Yes, I'm for it. I think anything we can do
to be proactive and give students an opportunity of saying no."

Dunnellon High football and weightlifting coach Perry Brown said the
school encourages students to eat right, get rest and work out to gain
the strength and speed needed to compete. He said he is unaware of
drug problems among his athletes but said he was in favor of the policy.

"If Mr. Yancey thinks there is a need for it, I have no problem with
it," he said.

Yancey did not say Wednesday where the additional funds for testing
would come from. If the policy extends to athletes and employees, the
district would be sampling more than 7,000 people.

Craig Ham, president of the county's teacher union, said he understood
why the district would want to test and monitor athletes, who push
their bodies under intense conditions, including Florida's heat. But
he didn't understand the need to test teachers, considering there was
no evidence suggesting there was a problem.

"We would not be excited about drug tests," he said.

During Wednesday's meeting, officials also reported that drug use
among students had remained steady in the past five years, though
alcohol use had increased.

Law enforcement and school officials told School Board member Steve
Hering, who called for the meeting, that they were doing their best to
curb substance abuse, despite limited resources.