STUDENT-ATHLETE DRUG TEST UP FOR OK

BARTOW -- The Polk County School Board will hold a public hearing and vote
on new policy language Tuesday that would open the door for immediate drug
testing of student-athletes.

The district is among eight recipients nationwide selected to receive a
grant from the U.S. Department of Education to set up a drug-testing
research program. Polk will begin randomly screening high school athletes
this spring for alcohol and drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.

The School District had a policy that allowed drug testing at George Jenkins
High School during the 1990s. But the district had no general policy. The
new language expands the old policy for districtwide use.

"I've already voted for the acceptance of the grant," said board member
Margaret Lofton. "And we need the policy to put the grant in place."

But not all of the board members are sold on the drug testing program.

"I'm not really 100 percent sure how I'm going to vote," said board member
Kay Harris-Fields. "I have some reservations about just singling out
athletes."

She said the county should look at testing all students participating in
extra-curricular activities.

Board member Brenda Reddout has said in the past that she'd like to see all
extra-curricular students tested. She said the district is assuming that
athletes have much more influence on other students than they actually might
have. And she said there's no empirical evidence that shows they use illegal
drugs any more than other students.

Harris-Fields objects to the new policy language that says students who test
positive for drugs may appeal only to their principal.

"I think everybody should have a next step," she said. "The way it is
written, the principal has the final say. And there is no next step."

Board member Frank O'Reilly said he has no problem with principals having
the final say. He said principals know their schools and know what's best
for them.

He said he's going to vote for the new policy. He said he didn't see any
real down side to drug testing athletes. And most of them, he said, won't
have a problem doing it either.

"We're trying desperately to protect the young people," he said. "And we're
trying not to step on their rights. I think this is one of those things they
shouldn't have any hesitation in doing."

Ed Boos, supervisor of prevention, health and wellness at the School
District's Mark Wilcox Center, said his office will supervise the overall
drug-testing program. But the Polk County Drug Court, he said, will handle
the actual screening at $15 a pop. He said the grant is worth $236,000.

The first round of testing will affect spring athletes and spring football
players, he said. Lists of athletes will come from schools.

"We'll start the week after spring break, possibly that Tuesday," he said.
"But we haven't met with the Drug Court to set up the schedule."

This year, seven schools will participate. Next year, 15 schools including
Santa Fe Catholic High School, will participate. Overall, about 6,000
students a year will be screened.

Boos said he would like to see more than just athletes tested. He said he'd
like to see all extra-curricular students tested and he'd even like to see
all students driving to school tested because driving to school is a
privilege.

"But the funds are limited," he said. "And we really had to make a choice on
who to test right now."

The drug testing program is really the brainchild of Dave Hallock, executive
director of Families of Polk County. His organization runs substance-abuse
support groups for teens in Drug Court.

"And I've seen a lot of kids who are athletes," he said. "I feel sort of a
sense of ownership over (the drug testing idea) because I've just seen too
much of the damage that drug use does to the kids and families."

He said athletes are a good target group because they influence other
students and because a lack of concentration or reflexes on the field
because of drug use could cause serious injuries.

If a student tests positive for drugs, they will go for at least 10 days to
the Mark Wilcox Center and may be required to attend counseling sessions
after that. If they refuse to be tested, they may not participate in sports
for the rest of the year.

If the board approves the policy Tuesday, student-athletes will soon be
taking home two consent forms for parents to sign. One is permission to drug
test their child, which is mandatory. The other, which is optional, allows
results of the drug tests to be used in the evaluation and research,
performed by the University of South Florida, accompanying the program.

Don Bridges, who oversees student athletics for Polk schools, said he thinks
drug testing athletes is a good idea. But he is a little concerned about a
mandatory consent form being sent home in the middle of the spring sports
season.

"What happens if the parents fail to send it back or refuse to sign it?" he
asked. "Are the kids removed from baseball, softball, track, tennis or
weight-lifting? I don't know."

Boos said they would indeed be removed and wouldn't be able to participate
until they return a signed form. Though he didn't think that was likely to
happen. He said most families will get the form back without problem.

Board chairman Jack English said he will vote for the drug testing policy.
He likes that it is random and covers both genders, and he's optimistic
about the effect drug testing athletes will have on the general student
population.

"I would hope to see the drug use decline," he said.

Lofton said testing will help identify students who are making poor choices
in their lives. And she said it lets students know the district is serious
about drug and alcohol abuse.

"Maybe 15 years ago, I wouldn't feel the same way I do today," she said.
"But our world has changed so drastically. It's sad to me that we ever have
to do this."